Arkenstone Obsidian 2013
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling -
Wine
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Obsidian (625 cases) is a similar but slightly different blend than its predecessor (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and the rest small portions of Malbec and Merlot). It has an opaque purple color and a stunning nose of acacia flowers, blackberries, licorice, forest floor, mocha/chocolate, and gobs of cassis fruit. Great intensity, a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel, stunning purity, and a length of 45+ seconds make for an exquisite, full-throttle, yet beautifully intense Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that should dink well for 20-30 years.
Rating: 98+ -
James Suckling
Wow. This is very impressive with blackcurrant and wet-earth aromas and flavors. Full body, chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Rich yet full of tension. Better in 2019.
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Wine Spectator
Very dense, tannic and concentrated, this makes a statement, with loose gravel, dusty dried currant and licorice notes, ending with a chewy aftertaste and a scent of mocha. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. Drink now through 2028. 625 cases made.
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2014-
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker
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Wine &
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine &
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine &
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Our serious interest in wine and our families’ farming history perhaps made it inevitable that we would think about planting vineyards here. We knew we did not want to clear the site for an “industrial” vineyard but didn’t know whether the effort required of farming the small patches of open space using sustainable practices could be justified. Then, in early 1995, a good friend of ours, who grew up in a Napa Valley wine family and founded her own label, encouraged us. She arranged for an expert who consulted for top vineyards all over the world to come to the Napa Valley to evaluate a number of potential vineyard sites. He included Arkenstone on this visit. Test holes were dug, and on a cloudy wet day we tramped around the property talking about dirt, drainage, exposures, air movement, and, most importantly, the promise of the site. His conclusion was that wine grapes of very high quality could be produced here, and that Arkenstone was indeed a special site. We didn’t then know to say “terroir” but understood that the grapes and the wine from these vineyards could over time become a recognizable expression of our site, climate, farming and winemaking. We decided to make this promise a reality.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.