Winemaker Notes
Exceptional density and composure, with brilliant focus, are hallmarks of the 2016 vintage. With a vibrant array of dark fruits and intriguing spices, Signature Cabernet Sauvignon unfolds with layer upon layer of juicy blackberry, wild blueberry, cedar and lead pencil with savory notes of cured bacon, sage and star anise. Texturally complex, with plenty of poignancy and largesse, 2016 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine to reward the most patient of collectors.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a total rock star on the nose, cranking out beautifully boisterous notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums, warm blueberries and Black Forest cake with hints of menthol, mocha, baking spices, star anise and unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied, rich and flamboyantly fruited in the mouth, the palate features a solid frame of super ripe, finely grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing very long and very spicy.
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Wine Enthusiast
Blended with 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, this is an impressive red wine, chalky and concentrated in tangy red fruit. With length and breadth, it has a complex structure and tightrope of tension that appeals and expands on the palate.
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PinotReport
Blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant character. Full body, deep fruit and silky tannins. Flavorful finish.
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.