Winemaker Notes
The 2013 Darius II rewards the decades-long pursuit of producing wines with remarkable seamlessness, grace and power from Southern Napa Valley. Exhibiting a classic Cabernet Sauvignon varietal profile from its cool, marine-influenced Mount Veeder origins, this exceptional vintage provides alluring aromatics of black cherry, incense and Tuscan leather intermingling with saturated dark fruits. A dense, savory, earthbound entry transitions seamlessly into flavors of blackberry pie and bittersweet cocoa with notes of cinnamon and sage. Even at a youthful stage, ripe and refined tannins indicate the potential for immediate as well as long term gratification. A long, cascading finish reveals a beautifully composed wine with a lifted quality that has become synonymous with Darius II.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Once again, the top wine in the vintage for Darioush is their 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Darius II. This is a stunner and compelling, a powerful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color and notes of incense, graphite, crème de cassis and blackberry. It is long and rich, with an extra dimension compared to the 2014 version. This wine is accessible now, but should be even better after 3-4 years of cellaring and last 25 or more years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Estate vineyards from near the town of Napa and Mount Veeder contribute to this wine, which includes 6% Malbec and 4% Merlot. Big, generous, pillowy tannins meet dust, rock and chalk to confront a wall of spicy, savory flavor and complexity, a mix of cinnamon and black pepper.
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.