Winemaker Notes
Gravelly Meadow is the winery's lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as "earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish."
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow offers up an opaque purple-black color and is profoundly scented of crème de cassis, plum preserves and mocha with hints of tar, black pepper, Indian spices and balsamic. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, it delivers an incredible depth of fruit and earthy flavors, with a solid backbone of fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing long and earthy.
Rating: 97+ -
James Suckling
Opulent aromas of crushed blueberries and plums. Hints of flowers. Full body, round and medium chewy tannins, yet this remains fruity and exuberant. Savory and delicious on the finish. Why wait?
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Wine Spectator
Marked by a strong cedary oak presence, though not at the expense of balance and proportion, this offers spice, currant, dried herb and crushed rock flavors and a long, focused finish. Too young now for peak enjoyment, but let this rest and then savor the complexity. Best from 2020 through 2032.
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.