7th/9th bottling of ZD's Abacus


9th on left was very present! Like a classy Panerai (sweet full bodied taste of coconut)


7th on right was like a tasteful, timeless IWC (big boastful, dark, hints of vanilla)

 

Abacus

Available to ship in October 2008
To pre-order Abacus X at $400 per 750ml bottle (maximum 6 bottles)
please call the winery at (800) 487-7757.

Abacus is ZD Vineyard's ultimate Cabernet Sauvignon, combining the best qualities of an aged wine with the best of a youthful wine, together in one sumptuous mouthful. Incredible depth and complexity along with a deep, lingering finish are backed by an intense fruit character.

The concept was born on a de Leuze family retreat, when ZD Winemaster, Robert and his brother, Brett were enjoying a wonderful old Cabernet Sauvignon. They agreed that the deep complexity and subtle nuances that develop in older wines are always accompanied by a loss of fruit. What if there was a way to blend the elegance of an older Cabernet Sauvignon with the intensity of fruit found in a younger wine?

Always eager to accept a challenge, Winemaster Robert deLeuze took on the task of creating such a wine, unlike any other produced in the world. The result is a "solera style" multiple-vintage blend of every ZD Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ever produced, which is held in barrel until bottling.

The first bottling, with the 1992 - 1998 vintages, was released November 1, 1999. Approximately 15% of the total blend was bottled in distinctive custom bottles, totaling 200 cases. The remainder was returned to barrel to await the next infusion of youthful fruit. Prior to the second bottling, the 1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was added to the blend. This is the ongoing cycle of the ever-evolving solera; each year Abacus will increase by one vintage, gaining more and more complexity. It truly stands as a legacy to all future ZD winemakers.

The tenth bottling (1992-2007) will be released in October 2008 and is currently being sold on a pre-sale basis.

 

good wine, way overpriced. I'd take 8 Ghost Block for the price of 1 abacus.
But ABACUS is way more ' impressive' to tell people about at tastings / gatherings.
Brian