Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Since 1990, Cabernet Sauvignon has an enviable track record at Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyard. Moreover, they should last for 20-30 or more years. My instincts suggest 2002 may be one of the finest Cabernets yet produced here, but the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is better every time I re-taste it. Its smoky, gamy, cedary, creme de cassis, tobacco, and leather-scented bouquet is Pauillac-like. Full-bodied with abundant ripe, silky tannin, this gorgeous effort may not be as seamless as the 2002, but it should last nearly as long ... at least two decades.
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.