Winemaker Notes
The 2021 is a vintage that is true to site. This vintage we sourced from higher elevations in the Knights Valley. The nose presents red fruits like rhubarb, baked cherry pie, anise, graphite, and black spices. There is flavorful, juicy core on the palate of darker fruits like black plum, with a polished finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Crown Vineyard is a saturated inky red color and is compact and deep on the nose, with notes of pencil lead, black cherries, compact currants, and cedar. It was raised for 32 months in 52% new French oak and is full-bodied and compact on the palate, with a lush ripeness, though it has a deep, dark earth-noted feel as well as notes of Puerh and cedar through the finish.
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James Suckling
Vibrant nose with notes of blackcurrants, cassia bark and cloves. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins and bright acidity, showing notes of blackberries, cedar and spices.
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.
A small and picturesque valley separating Napa Valley on its south border and Alexander Valley to its north, Knights Valley excels in similar varieties as the two aforementioned appellations, namely red Bordeaux varieties and blends, as well as Sauvignon blanc. Originally established by Beringer Vineyards, today several outstanding producers claim acreage here. The circadian cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean create a nighttime respite for vineyards during the hot growing season.