Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon includes 5% Petit Verdot and spent 22 months in 70% new French oak. It has a classic, old-school nose of black and blue fruits, tobacco, and sappy flowers to go with a medium to full-bodied, elegant style on the palate. With fine tannins and beautiful purity of fruit, it’s an incredibly satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the coming 15-20 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Containing splashes of Cabernet Franc (7%) and Merlot (5%) and aged for 22 months in 55% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is scented of blackberry preserves and wild blueberries with touches of Chinese five spice, cigar box and cinnamon toast, plus a waft of smoked meat. The medium to full-bodied palate offers lovely expression, with the spicy blue and black fruits beautifully framed by soft, velvety tannins, finishing on an earthy note.
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.