Winemaker Notes
The opulent nose of this wine exhibits fresh and bright aromas of cranberries and raspberries, cedar and tobacco, with notes of dried flowers and herbs. In the mouth, the palate is juicy, rich and round, full of ripe flavors of red fruits carried by a framework of fine tannins that give the wine structure and grip, ending in a delicious, long finish with lingering touches of minerality.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Laurea is a new wine in this range. It is a very serious second wine, if that term can even be used here. Red cherry, plum, cedar, gravel tobacco and dried flowers are some of the many aromas and flavors that build in the glass. Next to the flagship Cabernet, Laurea has a slightly redder fruit profile and naturally a bit less intensity. Vineyard sources are Sleeping Lady, Upper Range and Diamond Mountain.
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Wine Spectator
Juicy and lively, with lots of enticing licorice snap, plum sauce and blackberry compote notes bouncing through, carried by gutsy grip through the violet-tinged finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2032.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Laurea is a new "second" wine making its debut this year. In the spirit of the former Araujo Estate Altagracia label, Jaime Araujo (daughter of Bart and Daphne) said, "This is not just a kitchen-sink second wine. We choose wines that are still gorgeous, but just a little more up front, juicier and fruity to go into this blend
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.