Winemaker Notes
This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic example of a perfectly balanced valley floor Cabernet with excellent fruit concentration. On the nose, this wine offers sweet blackberries, dried Mission figs, black cherries, blackberry coulis, toasted vanillin and a hint of cigar box. The palate offers rich and velvety tannins, dark chocolate-covered cherries, black plums, mixed berry pie and toasted walnuts.
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Dark-fruited and chocolaty character here with sweet spice and bark undertones. Full-bodied with firm tannins and polished texture. Attractive bitter sweet citrus peel character at the end. A little chewy in the finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Tobacco, leather and spice cascade over flavors of sweet plum and juicy mixed fruits. Full bodied and generous, this wine is persistent and full of melting tannins.
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Wine Spectator
Vivid boysenberry and blackberry fruit drives along here, carried by a graphite edge. This nicely focused version picks up dark tobacco, warm earth and savory notes along the way. Drink now through 2034. 7,326 cases made.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the 2021s, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (there s 2% Merlot and 1% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot) has a deep ruby/plum hue to go with a modern, plush, medium to full-bodied style carrying ample toasty oak, some darker currant and blackberry like fruit, and some subtle floral nuances. I think it s an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that will offer plenty of pleasure over the coming 7-8 years, if not longer.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Black cherries and dusty loam notes are joined by hints of sage and thyme plus barrel-derived accents of vanilla and maple syrup. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and supple, easy to drink, yet with enough structure to partner rare beef.
Whitehall Lane Winery was founded in 1979, but the history of the soil cultivation dates back two centuries. In the mid 1800's, Napa Valley settlers were drawn to the gravelly-loam soils and ideal climate, planting high quality grape vines at the Whitehall Lane Winery site. A barn constructed in the early 1900's for equipment storage is still used today. In 1979, two brothers started the winery and directed their winemaking efforts successfully to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They named the winery after the road that runs along the southern border of the property, Whitehall Lane.
In 1993, the Leonardini Family purchased the Whitehall Lane Winery estate. They updated the winemaking and barrel-aging program and introduced a scientific approach in the vineyards. The winery now owns seven prime vineyards that are the cornerstone on which the wines are made. They include two vineyards in the St. Helena Appellation, three vineyards (including the winery) in the Rutherford Appellation, one vineyard in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley and one vineyard in Sonoma Valley.
In its short history, Whitehall Lane has developed into a world-class winery. The efforts of the Leonardini Family are evident in the run of accolades from wine publications but are even more apparent in their elegant, beautifully made wines.
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.