Winemaker Notes
This is a full-bodied wine with an integrated palate structure, firm ripe tannins, and a lingering finish. The aroma is bright with a mix of raspberry, black currant, blueberry, and a floral note underscored by tobacco and oak. The flavors are subdued but complex with ripe cherry, blackberry, and blueberry followed by and a spicy hint of pepper.
81% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc
5% Petit Verdot
4% Merlot
"Deep inky crimson hue with a fuchsia rim. A meld of aromas sweet maple, walnut and black fruit with a hint of blue cheese. Soft palate-feel on entry with earthy, spicy flavors that pick up a nutty appeal. Seamless integration of fruit and oak-laced tannins. Tart influences on the finish with a sprinkling of gravelly terroir."
-Wine News
"A dense ruby/purple-hued effort displaying a big, sweet bouquet of chocolate-charred black currant and blackberry fruit. With medium to full body, supple tannin, and outstanding opulence as well as purity, it can be drunk now and over the next 10-15 years."
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Professional Ratings
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.