Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
All varietal from a mix of top sites (Lewelling, Dr. Crane, and Stagecoach), the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley sports a vivid purple color to go with terrific cassis and blueberry fruits, full-bodied richness, a rounded, elegant mouthfeel, and solid notes of smoke tobacco and toasted spice. It’s going to gain a touch more complexity with short-term bottle age and keep for 15-20 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label is deep garnet-purple in color and features wonderfully pure, vibrant notes of fresh, ripe blackberries, red and black currants and boysenberries plus suggestions of violets, dark chocolate, unsmoked cigars and pencil shavings. The medium to full-bodied palate coats the mouth with lively black and red fruits, supported with ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, 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.