Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Tench Cabernet Sauvignon displays aromas of blue and blackberries, currants, graphite, crushed rock, and a hint of espresso. These complex aromatics carry through to the palate, joined by subtle notes of dried herbs. Ripe, polished tannins wrap the mid-palate, leading to a long, seamless finish that lingers beautifully. Aged in 100% new French oak, this commanding wine will continue to age and evolve to perfection over the next two decades.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Blue fruits, dark chocolate, leafy tobacco, and gravelly earth emerge from the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard, a full-bodied, deep, and expansive wine with remarkable richness as well as just about overflowing character. It has ripe tannins, no hard edges, and a seamless, seductive profile that carries impressive power and purity. This is a stunning effort with the depth and balance to drink beautifully over the next two decades.
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Vinous
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is ample and layered on the palate. Plush contours wrap around a core of blackberry, espresso, licorice, menthol, chocolate and cloves. This is a flamboyant, full-throttle Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft, creamy contours wrap it all up in grand style.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Bevan's 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard comes from a site in eastern Oakville, alongside the Silverado Trail. This vintage shows Ribena-like purity in its cassis aromas, plus a delicate hint of dried sage. It's full-bodied on the palate, chunky and intense but maybe lacking a bit of finesse compared to some other years. At this level of quality that's a quibble, as it's concentrated and long on the finish, a super example of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that should drink well for close to two decades.
Range: 94-96
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.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.