Last week as part of an auction lot I purchased a

1999 Staglin Family Vinyard"Salus" Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley 1.5L

I can find some notes on Staglin Family Wines but I never see a mention of the term "Salus". It is in the largest print on the label. Does anyone know what this designates? Anyone ever had any from any year?

The "Salus" is the Staglin Family's second wine. I absolutely love the '02. Its one of my favorite Cabs under $50 and I can usually find it around here for about $38. I have not had the 1999, but I liked Staglin's regular bottling in '99. It wasn't anything out of this world, but nothing to frown about. If you do end up liking this wine, definitely grab a bottle of the '02. I recommend it to everyone.

The Staglin Family has a party each year for the Salus bottlings, a Cab and a Chard, I think, from which the money raised is donated to a few charitable organizations.

Here are the winemaker notes:

Tasting Notes from Winemaker (2001-2003) Andy Erickson:

"Created to showcase the softer side of our vineyard, our Salus Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of three distinct vineyard blocks. On the nose, the wine shows aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries, woven with hints of tobacco, cedar, and leather. The tannins are silky and supple, and on the palate the wine’s complexity and elegance are inviting. With a great marriage of forward fruit and subtle oak, the soft, ripe fruit character lingers on the finish."

Harvest Dates: October 4 - 16, 1999
Fermentation: 100% Barrel Fermentation
Barrel Aging: 21 months
Oak: 50% New French, 50% 1-year-old French oak
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 14.2%
Cases: 700
Price: 1 bottle (750 ml): $50 (25% of proceeds support mental health research)

I drank a bottle of this a year or two ago. My only recollection is 'nothing special'.

Well it doesn't sound like anything that special.

Maybe if I hold on to it for five years Andy Erickson will become famous making ScrEagle and I can sell the baby for a little more scratch.

The mag is a good looking bottle.