Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Combines firm, ripe, rich and extracted flavors of currant, cedar, blackberry and mineral with a sense of suppleness. The flavors build on the palate, ending with hints of mint, herb, cedar and espresso. Best from 2012 through 2022. 476 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Chimney Rock’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very pleasing, up-front wine graced with expressive varietal fruit, relatively soft tannin and an accessible personality. All of the elements are very nicely balanced in this mid-weight offering. An understated finish rounds things out in style. This is an excellent choice for restaurants or any occasion that requires a bottle to be served without much fuss. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018.
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Wine Enthusiast
Marked by hefty tannins, this Cabernet is a little to astringent to drink now. With blackberry, currant and mineral flavors, it should develop for a while, but it could go down quickly, so it's a gamble.
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.