Oakford Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 1996
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Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet in color, this wine displays some of the lovely ripe blackberry and cherry aromas and flavors that this steep hillside vineyard is capable of producing. Quite ripe and intense in the nose with some spiciness coming from a blend of barrels. On the palate it is quite mouth filling and round, yet shows some muscle. The tannins are very soft and the balance quite nice for this easy to approach vintage. An enjoyable wine that will not require as much bottle age as usual. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this special estate vineyard on the western hills of the Napa Valley.
-Heidi Peterson Barrett, Winemaker
ALCOHOL: 13.6% by volume
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- Wine Spectator
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.