Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a bouquet of dark red berry fruit, supported by briary cherry, and tea-leaf herbaceous notes. The palate follows through nicely with juicy and bright strawberry preserves, black raspberry, black cherry, and cola, supported by delicate hints of mint, mocha, and dark chocolate. The tannins are smooth and round, offering a plush texture and mouthfeel, with a classic balance and structure that complements the character of this wine. Well- integrated baking spice notes of vanilla bean, cinnamon, and ginger from the toasted oak barrels seamlessly complement the lively berry fruit aromas and flavors, leading to a long, savory finish with focused acidity. This crowd-pleasing Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly drinkable now, upon release, and can age for many years to come.
Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Redcurrant and tile with some clove. Dark stone, too. Medium-bodied with some fresh herbs and dried thyme. Medium, ripe tannins. Fresh, creamy finish. A blend of 93% cabernet sauvignon with petite sirah and cabernet franc. Drink or hold.
-
Wine Spectator
Fresh, direct and focused, with red currant and cherry coulis notes that race through, dotted with savory, floral and tobacco accents. Judicious toast lets the fruit play out, and there's solid energy throughout. Drink now through 2030.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is terrific, with a medium to full-bodied, round, plush style that carries lots of darker currant fruits, some tobacco, chocolate, and violet notes, ripe, soft tannins, and outstanding length. It's going to be a great value.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This well-balanced, moderately tannic wine offers black fruits, oak spice and a lightly gripping texture, all in good proportions. It’s a pleasurable wine that shows the typical, attractive black cherries, black olives and hints of baking spices.
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.