2008 BOYANCI InSpire Cabernet Sauvignon Duo

2 x 2008 BOYANCI InSpire Cabernet Sauvignon

Our own Kevin Boyer not only brings us some of the best names in California wine, he is also the co-founder of one of the most prestigious brands in Napa! Just last October, Wine Spectator named BOYANCI one of the “Best New Faces of Napa Valley.”

Boyer founded BOYANCI with his business partner Tom Steffanci (read: BOYer and steffANCI). Steffanci is the former chief at Terlato Wines International, an import company whose portfolio includes world-renowned wineries like Gaja, Rochioli and Bollinger.

Boyer and Steffanci sought to create a wine they would be proud to put their names on, so they hired rock-star winemaker Mia Klein. Mia has previously made wine at some of the greatest wineries in Napa, such as Araujo Estate, Spottswoode, Viader and Dalla Valle. Food & Wine magazine named her Winemaker of the Year in 2003.

And the pedigree doesn’t stop at the winemaker. BOYANCI taps some of the best vineyards in Napa Valley, including the 1,200-foot-elevation Stagecoach Vineyard, a Lot18-member favorite.

The 2008 InSpire Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits the hallmarks of a legendary wine and lives up to its name. Ten percent of all profits at BOYANCI are donated to a charity called Coprodeli that works to uplift the poorest children of Peru with food, clothing, schools, housing and job skills. In Boyer’s words, “It’s uplifting to make great wines, and it’s uplifting to give back.” The 2008 reviews are starting to come in (Wine Spectator: 92 pts.), and it is clear that BOYANCI has another winner on its hands.

Tasting Note
Baking spices, plums, vanilla, mocha, brambly fruit and sweet richness that is juicy and complex, all linger in your mouth. Chocolate-covered cherries envelop your mouth with velvety, textured tannins. This is a complex wine with persistent length that shows off its fine pedigree. The deep purplish color reveals the wine’s fruit intensity and its youth, as it will continue to improve for the next seven to 10 years. It is also perfectly drinkable now. Try with grilled meats with berry sauces or roast leg of lamb.

—Dini Rao

Dini Rao has 12 years of wine experience, working in senior roles for both Amazon’s and Christie’s wine programs. At Christie’s, she evaluated the world’s finest wines for auction, including wines dating back to the 1700s. Dini earned a Diploma with Merit from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust ® and is a candidate for the Masters of Wine, which only 30 people in the US hold. Follow Dini on Twitter: @dinivino