Winemaker Notes
The iodine-dark color and black fruit present here belie the dynamic currents that run beneath this expression’s concentrated elegance. Exceptionally fine-grained tannins gather on the periphery of the palate, migrating steadily toward its center, while a bolt of acidity pierces the density and enlivens a playful dance, generating an exhilarating and refreshing arc of electricity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fragrant and vivid, with red currants and hints of raspberries and orange peel on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with a chewy texture. Solid and juicy at the end. Delicious now, but will age beautifully with such a structure. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
One of the standouts here, ranking with the crème de la crème of the vintage, the 2022 St. Eden comes from a cooler terroir and volcanic soils on a hillside just outside of Oakville. It's layered and concentrated, with ripe red and black fruits, medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, seamless mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. With nicely integrated oak, ample mid-palate depth, and outstanding length, it's going to keep for 15+ years. Drink 2025-2040.
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Vinous
The 2022 St. Eden is quite the powerhouse. The tannins are especially potent today. That's something I did not see last year, when the wine was quite a bit more expressive than it is now. It will be interesting to see how the 2022 develops over the coming years. At this stage, it is quite the brute, and also a stylistic outlier relative to the other wines in this flight of 2022s.
Rating: 95+ -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Picked from September 4 to September 8, the 2022 St. Eden originates from a north-facing site in eastern Oakville, just north of the Oakville Crossroad. To me, the compressed, early harvest comes across in the rather taut, red-fruited nature of the wine, which also shows a bit more cedar than typical. It's medium-bodied and shows ample concentration, but it comes across as rather astringent, with a tart, cranberry-ish finish. Give it several years in the cellar.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.