Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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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.
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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.
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.