Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
If arguably a slightly smaller scaled wine than its more opulent mates, this bottling still shows fine fruity depth as well as the polish that seems a Duckhorn signature in 2006. It takes a somewhat more mannerly and elegant tack yet has a fine sense of muscle as well, and, while never a powerful wine, it hangs on and on at the finish. Tag it for drinking in three or four years, but know that its balance and depth will ensure a good ten years of life.
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.