Winemaker Notes
With a rich garnet color, this full-bodied wine opens with aromas of violets, pomegranate, and freshly toasted oak barrels, with a hint of potpourri and crisp linen. On the palate we find flavors of fresh cherries, Chambord, caramel, red plums, Earl Grey tea, and Anisette, with well-structured tannins and hints of dark cocoa, marzipan, and French Roast coffee on the long, and mouth-coating finish.
Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec, 7% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Acumen 2014 Mountainside Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in 100% French oak for 18 months. Poulsen notes this as one of the best vintages of the decade in Napa Valley. “This wine demonstrates the terroir of the estate,” he says. The aromas are meaty: Filet mignon comes to mind, but there are also floral threads with hints of dried violets. As the tannins paint the tongue, acidity divides it, adding finesse to flavors of dark chocolate, espresso beans, and inky black fruit. “We coax the estate for what it has to offer,” Poulsen adds.
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.