Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted from magnum at the winery, Bryant's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers swirls of ripe cherries, ribboned through with classic hints of vanilla and pencil shavings. From that excitement and dynamism on the nose, it moves into a great suppleness and elegance on the medium- to full-bodied palate, with plenty of softly dusty tannins still present on the lingering finish. Just entering its prime—maybe even early for some consumers' preferences—this benchmark expression of Pritchard Hill.
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James Suckling
Blackberry and blackcurrant character with dried flowers, iron and fresh mushrooms. Very subtle and complex. Medium-to full-bodied, very linear and focused with super fine tannins that are driven and succulent. Extremely long and flavorful. Shows precision and focus. Finely crafted. Subtle. Hard not to drink and contemplate now, but better after 2022.
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Decanter
The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon shows grip and density from the first mouthful, and holds your attention with its straight-backed approach from beginning to end. Concentrated, textured, understated and yet unmistakably confident. Winemaker Kathryn Carothers is delivering an exceptionally juicy, pure lead pencil and cassis-styled Cab for the 25th anniversary of the estate. Drinking Window 2023 - 2040
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Wine Spectator
This sports a juicy, fruit-laden core of black currant, blackberry and fig paste flavors, inlaid liberally with baker's chocolate, espresso and tar notes. Everything pulls together on the finish, carried by a wide swath of loamy grip. Shows more heft than purity, but hard to deny. Best from 2022 through 2037.
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.