Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Cut from the same cloth as the 2014, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon NVD shows the vintage style nicely with its focused, elegant, yet concentrated profile. Black raspberries, toasted spices, cassis and dried earth all emerge from this high-quality, classic, balanced Cabernet Sauvignon that will keep for 15-20 years.
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James Suckling
A ripe and slightly sweet, cabernet-based red with fine vanilla oak, but also generous, supple tannins. Soft but clean finish. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from vineyards on the eastern side of the valley (Calistoga, Howell Mountain, Pritchard Hill and Soda Canyon), the 2015 NVD Cabernet Sauvignon gives up a deep garnet-purple color and fresh, crunchy black berry, plum, wild blueberry and gentle Provence herbs notes with hints of cedar chest and forest floor, plus a touch of Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of grainy tannins, it delivers loads of lively black and blue fruit, finishing long and earthy.
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.