Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with youthful, rambunctious scents of baked blueberries, warm cassis and black forest cake plus nuances of cedar chest, dark chocolate, candied violets and licorice. Full-bodied, the concentrated black berry preserves flavors are well-supported by firm, superbly ripe tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing very long and perfumed.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming all from the Stagecoach Vineyard from the Atlas Peak region of Napa Valley, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard was brought up in 100% new French oak for 26 months. It's similarly colored to the classic Napa Valley release but has more dark fruits, earthy minerality, underbrush, and tobacco notes. With medium-bodied richness, a focused, concentrated mid-palate, good acidity, and a great finish, it's another incredibly classy wine from this team that's going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. Rating: 93+
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Wine Enthusiast
Herbal tea and cedar give this wine an earthy, savory profile that is followed by clove and black currant. Entirely varietal, it is hearty and robust in tannin and power, with bold, full-bodied texture and weight, the oak intertwined and pronounced.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Just northeast of Napa city, Atlas Peak boasts some of Napa Valley’s highest elevation vineyards. Here the intense sunlight coupled with cool, nighttime temperatures produce grapes that are perfectly ripe, balanced and concentrated. The appellation is rich in volcanic soils and excels in the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.