Winemaker Notes
The 2013 Elevation is massive wine with a dense deep ruby color offering aromas of spicy brambled baked fruit of blackberry and current, that transition to earth driven aromatics of forest-wet soil,cocoa nibs, and spice tones like wild sage/bay laurel, bergamot/black tea and hints of cedar. The palate is rich, broad and fleshy with a seductively fine grain, yet rigidly built texture finishing with baked cherry, licorice candy and persistence. Best from 2016 to 2036.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a phenomenal wine with incredible precision and length. The tannins are so finely polished and long, giving the wine such persistence. Full, dense and stunning. A wine to enjoy for decades. Fabulous.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Lastly, usually the most famous wine produced at this winery is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1147. Clearly the most backward of the three wines, it possesses more tannin, structure and density. More of a long-term proposition than its two siblings, this wine has a dense purple color, good structure and ripeness, beautiful, flowery crème de cassis and spice. It is intense and full-bodied, but patience will be required. Forget it for the next 4-5 years and drink it over the following 25 or more.
Rating: 95+
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.