Winemaker Notes
The 2018 J. Davies Estate "jd" Cabernet opens with aromas of blackberry, currants, milk chocolate, and sour cherry, accentuated by fresh coffee, dense and dark dried plum, and red licorice. The palate's lush entry of strawberry pie precedes a lightly floral mid-palate. Well-structured tannins are infused with a hint of dark chocolate, cocoa and vanilla, culminating with a bright and lively finish.
Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Bright and expressive, with a big burst of açaí berry, mulberry and blueberry notes leading the way, with melted licorice joining in as it glides through the lengthy finish. Delivers ample buried structure, but the fruit steals the show. Best from 2023.
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.