Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Tight and focused with currant, blackberry, chocolate and berry character. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. A blend of 86% cabernet sauvignon, 12% petit verdot, 2% merlot. A pretty wine already. Nicely done for 2015.
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Wine Spectator
This shows a mulled edge, featuring plum and blackberry notes that meld with slightly rustic licorice root, steeped black tea and sage accents. The finish lets all the elements stretch out in concert. For fans of the style. Drink now through 2026.
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.