Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon 1886 is a beautifully delineated wine with expressive aromatics and plenty of nuances. Blackberries, Chambord, spices, white flowers and licorice are some of the notes that emerge from this generous, fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon. This feminine, graceful Cabernet Sauvignon should continue to drink well for a decade or so. In 2008 the blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, aged in French oak barrels, 70% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.
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Wine Spectator
A rich, dense, captivating style that serves up tiers of loamy earth, dried herb and currant, with black licorice, sage, cedar and mineral. Full-bodied, well-balanced and complex, with the flavors woven together on a chewy finish. Best from 2012 through 2021. 1,343 cases made.
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.