David Arthur Elevation 1147 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Professional Ratings

• 99 Wine Enthusiast

  There are incredible aromatics on this Cabernet. It's powerful yet subtle (how can that be?), all about sweet, crushed summer blackberries and pure cassis liqueur. Elaborate oak, in the form of buttered toast, is perfectly in balance, never overshadowing the fruit. The tannins are dry, rich and smooth, defining Napa elegance, grace and beauty. World class, dramatic and just about perfect, this gets better and better as it breathes in the glass. Drink now–2030.

• 94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Elevation 1147 is the product of a very late harvest that stretched into the last days of October. Here, too, the fruit is dark, rich and powerful. I don’t see a meaningful difference in quality between the 1147 and the Old Vine in 2009, rather the differences are more about style. The 1147 is the most overt, powerful, and structured wine in the lineup of 2009s here. Dark red berries, earthiness, licorice and smoke add complexity as the wine opens up in the glass. Firm tannins support the intense, powerful finish. It will be interesting to see if the nuances of the estate’s two Cabernets emerge more fully over time. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.