Hartwell Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

"Rich, supple and harmonious, with layers of blackberry, currant and dusty berry fruit shaded by light toasty oak and supported by firm, ripe, fine-grained tannins. Needs time for the cedary oak to works its way into the center, but should be superb in a couple of years."

92 Points

Wine Spectator

"If you enjoy cellaring Cabs, this is probably a good candidate. It's fine to drink now, with forward cassis and cherry flavors that are liberally oaked, and dry. But the tannins are straightforward. They require something big and greasy, like lamb.
Cellar Selection"

92 Points

Wine Enthusiast

"Bright ruby-red. Complex nose combines black raspberry, tobacco, smoke, spices and earth, plus a whiff of fresh herbs. Sweet, supple and harmonious, with flavors of black raspberry, bitter cherry, tobacco, milk chocolate and loamy earth. This boasts very good texture, sweetness and balance. Finishes with dusty tannins that avoid dryness. Very Stags Leap in character."

91 Points

International Wine Cellar

"The deep ruby/purple-colored 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon from Hartwell Vineyards is a closed, elegant style of wine displaying notes of sweet cedar, damp earth (or is it forest floor?), black cherries, black currants and a hint of oak. This medium to full-bodied effort requires another 2-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 15+ years thereafter."

90 Points

The Wine Advocate