Winemaker Notes
The 2020 vintage presents an alluring profusion of black cherry, mulberry and Oregon blackberry aromas with notes of leather, cigar box and dark chocolate. Hints of desert sage and crème de menthe accent the rich fruit. The palate is silky and voluptuous, delivering loads of currant, cassis, black raspberry and ripe cherry. Notes of fig and baking spice are underscored by earthy tones of dates and truffle. Mature, ripe tannins yield a weighty, velvety texture integrated with a limestone minerality and subtle oak. A lengthy finish leaves lingering impressions of blackberry, plum and espresso with a touch of white pepper. A wine of immense staying power that will evolve favorably for many years to come.
Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Impressively dark in the glass, this bottling pairs intense purple fruit and flower on this nose with more roasted, umami-laden aromas. The elegant palate is a master class in tannin management, proving firm in structure yet soft in mouthfeel. Flavors of blackberry jam, cocoa, walnut and cracked pepper ride a lingering acidity into the finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Soul Of A Lion is tighter and more backward than the 2019 (which was also tight and focused at this stage as well), offering lots of ripe black fruits, new leather, mineral, and iron nuances to go with a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured style on the palate. It's unquestionably a beautiful, outstanding wine.
Range: 94-96 -
Decanter
Full, voluptuous and complex wine which will only improve with age. The fruit is dominant now, but the tertiary notes are knocking on the door. Aromas of dark berries, blackberries and blackcurrants, confirmed on the palate alongside mocha, chocolate and black liquorice notes. Medium-plus to firm tannins that will continue to integrate with age. A lengthy finish. This wine has a long life ahead.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Soul Of A Lion, made from free-run juice, is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak. It has a deep ruby color and pure aromas of blackcurrants, tobacco, truffle and thyme with touches of leather and graphite. The full-bodied palate has a pleasantly rustic texture and savory character, finishing with tobacco accents.
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.
