Winemaker Notes
2007 was an exceptional vintage for cabernet sauvignon in Napa Valley. This sumptuous, exquisitely structured Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon displays bright, ripe blackberry, boysenberry and plum fruit aromas mingled with seductive scents of loamy earth anddark chocolate. On the full-bodied, beautifully composed palate, the wine delivers wonderfully fresh, deep and concentrated blackberry and dark plum flavors framed by round, supple tanninsand a long, succulent finish enriched by savory cocoa and mocha tones. Dense, lush and seamless, with perfect underlying structure, this delicious Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon drinks beautifully now, but will display even greater complexity with another 6-8 years' aging.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The stunning 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select is a cross-village blend of Oakville and Rutherford fruit. Aromas of graphite, burning embers, crushed rocks/flint, plums, licorice and blackberries are vaguely reminiscent of a top vintage of La Mission-Haut-Brion. Full-bodied, deep, chewy flavors, admirable purity and stunning concentration result in a profound Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 20+ years. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality rarely exists at this price point.
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.