Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2021 J. Davies Jamie comes from the family estate vineyards on Diamond Mountain. Haunting fragrances of sage and violet mark the nose, joined by black cherries and cassis, while the full-bodied palate is wonderfully expansive yet silky, concentrated and flavorful without showing any heaviness or alcoholic heat, despite weighing in at 15.4% alcohol. The finish boasts ample structure and texture, folding in hints of licorice and dried spices. It's an impressive effort from the Davies family and consultant Celia Welch.
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Vinous
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Jamie is silky, elegant and super-refined. Crushed red berry fruit, spice, blood orange, mint and a kiss of French oak are all beautifully delineated. The Jamie emerges from a selection of blocks in the Diamond Mountain estate vineyard. This sleek, racy Cabernet Sauvignon is a winner.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from the Diamond Mountain estate vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Jamie is inky hued and has a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, asphalt, melted licorice, liquid violets, and iron-like nuances. Based on 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot, aged 28 months in 77% new French oak, this rich, powerful, meaty Cabernet is full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, building, polished tannins, and outstanding length.
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James Suckling
This powerful, polished, deeply flavorful red echoes the old-school style of Napa cabernet in its deep black-cherry, black-olive and herbal overtones, but it wraps them in a fashionably luxurious texture and very full body. Dark chocolate, vanilla bean, sweet cherries, baked plums and creme de cassis.
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.