Winemaker Notes
This Cabernet opens with rich aromas of red raspberry and red plum, accentuated by undertones of cocoa powder and cola spice. Supple tannins anchor the wines well-structured palate, where a concentrated entry of baked strawberry and blackberry leads to a juicy acidity and lengthy finish.
Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
The Davies family purchased Diamond Mountain Vineyard in 1965, replanting it to Bordeaux varieties in 1994. The 16th vintage of this wine is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, and 6% Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 62% new French oak. The opulence on the nose shows off dark chocolate, savory herbs, leather, and blackberry. It’s a voluptuous, lush, and earthy red that offers up cinnamon and cumin with a hint of spearmint. The black fruit is lathered with licorice.
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James Suckling
Very vibrant, keenly articulated and concentrated cabernet that offers powerful black cherries and blackberries with dark chocolate and a deep, intense finish. This is full of promise. Try from 2020.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine has a supple succulence of black fruit on the midpalate that's accented by earthy, savory spice. Dark cherry and plum take on bolder, concentrated richness as the wine opens, with expansive, grippy tannins lending support. Enjoy 2026–2031.
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Jeb Dunnuck
What’s considered the estate wine, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain is another impressive wine from this estate and winemaker Celia Welch. Ample savory earth, mushroom, and both red and black fruits all emerge from this medium-bodied Cabernet that has moderate tannins, impressive balance, and plenty of upfront charm and accessibility, especially for a Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite already drinking great, I suspect it will keep for 10-15 years or more.
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Wine Spectator
This sports an intriguing core of loganberry and mulled raspberry flavors, with sassafras, menthol and tea accents weaving throughout. Mulled spice details infuse the seductive finish. Distinctive. Drink now through 2028.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Diamond Mountain is the northernmost mountain appellation in the Mayacamas Range, on the northwest side of the valley floor, above the town of Calistoga. Defined mainly by elevation, vineyards are planted at 400 to 2,200 feet.
Diamond Mountain vineyards receive plenty of sunshine at these elevations and are typically above the coastal fog line. But given its western proximity, the area still easily cools down from early morning and late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes. The AVA (American Viticultural Area) covers 5,000 acres but just over 500 acres are under vine.
Diamond Mountain soils, mainly weathered, red sedimentary rock and decomposed, volcanic ash, are infertile, quick-draining and produce small, thick-skinned grapes, bursting with chewy tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Zinfandel have great success here.
Like other sub-appellations in Napa Valley, the Diamond Mountain area had no shortage of pioneer winemakers. Rudy von Strasser led the effort for Diamond Mountain to acquire AVA status in 1999.