Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a first-growth site, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake (essentially their Reserve offering) is made from a blend of the finest lots. This wine may turn out to be one of their all-time greats. A sensational Cabernet, it boasts an opaque purple color, plenty of the mountain blueberry and wild flower aromas, rich blackberry, blueberry and cassis fruit, terrific acidity for this degree of ripeness and power, and an amazingly textured, long mouthfeel. The finish lasts for 40+ seconds. This exquisite, brilliant Napa Cabernet Sauvignon demonstrates what exceptional elegance can be achieved allied to formidable richness and power. While I could drink it now, most observers will enjoy it after a few years of cellaring. It should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 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.