Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesA substantially bold, complex and layered wine, this is juicy in feel yet firm in structured tannins. Textured and intriguing in sweet oak tones, the fruit components are weighted in cassis and black cherry, with a lasting mineral-laden finish of crushed rock.
Cellar Selection
Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Transcendent sports a saturated purple color as well as a big, sexy profile. Black and blue fruits, some graphite and violets, full body, sweet tannins, and terrific purity all make for a rich, blockbuster styled effort that has the density and tannins to keep for 2+ decades.
Barrel Sample: 93-95
A firm and silky red with aromas and flavors of blackcurrants and blueberries. Hints of walnuts, too. Full-bodied, chewy and rich on the finish.
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.