Upscale Living Magazine - The Wonders of Wine Country

Unleash the true romantic in your soul and call O'Brien Estates (www.obrienestates.com) for an appointment while you are in Napa valley. Bart O'Brien is the epitome of the 21st Century, Renaissance Man. He and his wife Barb are releasing a six bottle series aptly named Attraction Chardonnay, Seduction Bordeaux, Romance of the Heart Red Blend, Flirtation Rose, Passion of the Soul Cabernet Sauvignon, and Reflection Late Harvest Cuvee. Imagine sitting across a candlelight table, looking into your loved ones eyes and having them recite the poetic label off the Romance of the Heart bottle: Extend to me the hand of conversation. Twirl me with laughter. Embrace me with kindness. Will you be mine for a moment? Or for a lifetime? How can you resist wanting to buy this wine by the case? I know I am ready to place my order.

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Food & Beverage Maganine - February 2008

Eight years ago, in the rolling hills of the Oak Knoll District in the Napa Valley, Bart O'Brien accomplished his 20-year dream of owning a vineyard. The story began on the third date with his now-wife Barb. The duo visited Napa Valley and fell in love, not only with each other, but with the wine country as well. That is where their endless seduction began and still continues.

The 33-acre vineyard, bonded winery, and home are the fruits of the Seduction dream made real. The soil, similar to that of the Pomerol region of Bordeaux, is planted to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. The grapes, which are grown sustainably without the use of pesticides or herbicides, are hand-harvested, crushed, and fermented in small batches, then aged in 100% French oak barrels. The Winemaker, David Yorgensen, uses traditional artisinal winemaking techniques, without the use of artificial means to concentrate or adjust the flavors found in the grapes. Every glass of Seduction is the natural flavor of the slow ripened grapes.

There are six different wines in the O'Brien Estate portfolio, each with its own special appeal. Attraction, their chardonnay, is a light greenish straw color, with a pear, almond, butterscotch and spice aroma with the rich layered flavors of fig, tropical fruits, and spice. This full-bodied, round, and creamy chardonnay has a good acidity, a slight touch of spicy oak, and a long finish.

Flirtation, a dry rose, is made from 100% merlot. It includes the sensual aromas of strawberries and cream with a light acidity and a long, smooth finish. Romance of the Heart, the cabernet sauvignon, is well structured with hints of deep, dark blueberry and plum. It also has the teasing flavors of tobacco, vanilla, and spice. It's smooth going down and has a soft, lingering mid-palate finish.

Passion of the Soul, the merlot, has a deep ruby color, with a dark and intense flavor. The gushing flavor of blackberry, black cherry and cassis, with aromas of sweet cherry liquor, caramel, toffee, coffee, and forest floor, and a profile of cedar, earth, black cherry, and creme de cassis give this merlot a sophisticated and exotic magnetism. Rich in the tannins and youthful acids give this wine ample structure.

Reflection, the late harvest cuvee, incorporates teasing aromas of blueberry, vanilla, and cedar which leads to the intense core of berry fruit dominating the palate. Sweet flavors frame the bright acidity and modest tannins. The ripe fruit contribute to a velvety mouthfeel and lingering finish on this very limited production late harvest red wine.

Finally, there's Seduction, the vineyards Bordeaux-style flagship wine, which has a deep, dense purple color throughout. Featuring stimulating aromas of sweet black cherry, warm licorice, cedar, oak, and toasted espresso bean, and flavors of intense currant, berry, and creme de cassis, this full bodied, supple and well concentrated blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot has rightfully been awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast and the gold medal in the 2007 Los Angeles wine Competition.

All O'Brien Estate wines are produced in limited quantity and further limited release wines are produced for O'Brien Estate "Wine Lovers Club" members. The O'Brien Estate also offers private Romance Tours of the vineyard

As Bart O'Brien concludes, "Seduction gets to the heart of what wine is all about. So often wine is judged, scored, and hoarded in the dark cellars. At O'Brien Estate, we choose to take a lighter, more sensual approach to wine, focusing on its romantic qualities and the enjoyment of sharing a glass with friends and lovers."

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The Tennessean - February 2008
Surfing the Wine Shelves

2005 O'Brien Estate Napa Valley Seduction. $45. A bordeaux-style blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot, this wine had aromas of ripe black cherries, black licorice, coffee and cedar. Explosive fruit in the mouth in a big wine. This wine should improve over the next decade.

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Wine Enthusiast - March 2007

92 Points - O'Brien Family  Seduction, Napa Valley, 2004

A Bordeaux blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a beautifully structured, opulent red wine, rich in blackberry, cherry, rum, chocolate, and coffee flavors.

It shows the firm tannins and clean acids of a young wine, and while it will be beautiful with a grilled steak now, it has the stuffing to last for 10 years. - S.H.

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Wine Spectator - Rated "Top Value" - #5 of 14 wines selected

89 Points - O'Brien Family  Seduction, Napa Valley, 2003 $28
Openly fruity and supple, with polished plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit that's well-proportioned, finishing with ripe, fine-grained tannins. Perfectly enjoyable now.
Drink now through 2012. 1967 cases made.
James Laube, November 2005

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The Robb Report

Seduction, A Bordeaux-style blend from O'Brien Family Vineyards, derives its name from one of the English languages more treacherous verbs, a word that combines a sense of peril with a powerful allure. The wine justifies its moniker on a number of levels, beginning with its black box, which bears a letter "O" that suggests a lipstick smudge or a pleasuable exclamation. The carnal red interior of the box tantalizes further, as does the bottle itself, wjich is wrapped in a red Circean veil that makes opening this wine something of a striptease. Yet the amorous play begins in earnest when the O'Brien Family Vineyard Seduction 2004 is uncorked and the rich black-purple wine offers up its sultry scents of blackberry, vanilla, and earthy wet granite. The palate is as luscious as a French kiss, in which blackberry, black cherry, hints of tobacco leaf, and creamy vanilla flavors embrace the tase buds, while the wine's silky texture coats the mouth enticingly. This blend should satisfy the lustiest appitites, but beware: As with any proper seduction, it will leave you wanting more.

from the Robb Report March 2007