Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Right out of the bottle, this is one tough Cabernet. It's very tannic and extracted with blackberry jam, and the oak stands off to one side—sweet and smoky and flashy. However, that “Wow!” factor is always there, and the overall balance suggests cellaring. Already throwing some thick sediment, it should begin to mellow after 2018. Cellar Selection.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet in color, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve offers up maturing black berry preserves, spice cake and blackcurrant jelly scents with hints of tobacco leaf, new leather, sandalwood and cinnamon stick plus a touch of dried Provence herbs. Full-bodied, the palate has a firm foundation of rugged tannins and just enough freshness to support the muscular, evolved flavors, finishing 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.