Winemaker Notes
The Cabernet Sauvignon in this wine was grown on the prestigious Sugarloaf East Vineyard on a hillside southeast of downtown Napa. The Petit Verdot and the Merlot are from two small family run vineyards in Coombsville. These fog cooled sites imbue aromas of lilac, dark berries, and delicate baking spices into the intriguing nose. Bright, rich flavors of blackberries and anise, with nuances of bitter-sweet chocolate fill the palate, and delightfully linger as the wine disappears.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Dark fruit, cigar box and mocha on the nose. Pretty herbs, too. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Chewy and structured on the palate with a juicy feel in the background. Firm finish. Drink in 2024.
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Wine Spectator
Plush and inviting, with waves of warmed cassis and plum compote lined with dark licorice, sweet tobacco and loam. The long finish lets the fruit play out nicely, with a velvety feel throughout. There's ample toast, but the fruit keeps the upper hand. Should have lots of fans for sure. Drink now through 2032.
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.