Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new, this wine is tart and racy, with a red-toned fruit profile complemented by saline-mineral intensity on the nose and palate. Aromas of leather, green olive, and cherrywood add complexity. The palate is immediately enveloped by multidimensional tannins with a pixelated quality, arresting the senses before giving way to sanguine fruit and vibrant minerality. The finish is layered with notes of blood orange, citrus peel, sandalwood, and loamy earth. A testament to the winery, a Napa Valley staple since it opened its doors in 1987, this wine showcases precision and depth in every sip.
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Wine Enthusiast
With signature poise and persistence, Corison 2022 Cabernet captures the opportunities of a challenging vintage showing both her skill as a winemaker and the strength of her vineyards. Lifted, fresh aromatics spin into flavors of dark fruits touched by espresso grounds, dry cocoa, and juicy finish. Tannins are approachable now, and will benefit from a meal, or several years in bottle.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Largely picked prior to the Labor Day heat wave, Corison's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the restrained, streamlined style that is a calling card of the winery. Marked by black cherries and loam, with subtle spice shadings from its 20 months in 50% new French oak, this medium-bodied wine maintains superb tension between acidity and alcohol and delivers a lingering, mouthwatering finish framed by soft tannins.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Beautiful red and black fruits, spicy herbs, and savory, floral notes all shine in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 20 months in 50% new French oak. This complex, medium-bodied, satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon has ripe, integrated tannins and outstanding length. It's ready to go, and I'd happily drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-12 years. Drink 2025-2037.
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Wine Spectator
Manages to show floral lift in the form of hibiscus and iris notes, while a relatively fresh streak of cassis and bitter plum coulis forms the core. Offers singed alder and savory notes on the tail end, with a slightly taut structure, but overall this does a good job of defying the odds in ’22. Drink now through 2032.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
St. Helena is in the heart of the Napa Valley, nestled between Calistoga to the north and Rutherford on its southern border. On its western side, the Mayacamas Mountains guard it from the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean; to its east stand the Vaca Mountains. In conjunction, these mountain ranges serve to lock in summer daytime heat. But in the evening, cool air from the San Pablo Bay funnels up through the valley, creating very chilly nights. It isn’t uncommon for temperatures to drop 50 degrees, a shift that promotes a balance of sugar ripeness and acidity in wine grapes.
St. Helena contains a plethora of different soil types in a small area, which have been enhanced over centuries by rain runoff from both mountain ranges. Its vineyards cover a variety of terrain, spreading across the bucolic valley floor and its benchlands.
These ideal topographic and climatic growing conditions easily caught the attention of early winemaking pioneers. In fact, St. Helena is the birthplace of Napa Valley’s commercial wine industry. Dr. Crane founded his cellar in 1859, David Fulton in 1860 and Charles Krug in 1861.
Today there are no less than 400 separate vineyards planted within the 12,000 acres that make up the St. Helena appellation.
Revered most for its red wines based on Bordeaux varieties, namely Cabernet Sauvignon, the St. Helena appellation is also a source of superior Syrah, Zinfandel and Sauvignon blanc.