Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a gorgeous wine for drinking now and over the next decade or more. Savory and floral, with tons of character, the 2015 is a total rockstar. Lavender, spice, grilled herbs, tobacco and incense meld together in the glass, all framed by soft tannins that wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit. This is a pretty opulent vintage for the Napa Valley Cabernet. Vineyard sources are Caldwell in Coombsville and the Howell Mountain estate. Superb.
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.