Winemaker Notes
Dark ruby in the glass, this wine begins with scents of hazelnut and a potpourri of dark red fruits. In the mouth you’ll find that it possesses a great balance of fruit, tannin and oak flavors that will complement a wide range of foods very well. Cassis dominates, with subtle underpinnings of herbs and other savory touches. For such a young wine it already displays fine-grained tannins and a creamy mouthfeel that give it a solid backbone, along with supporting acids making for a delicious mouth-coating wine with great length. Balanced, saturated and approachable, one can enjoy this wine for up to 10 years beyond release.
Blend: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot
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.