Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The blockbuster 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa came from two sources, the Morisoli Vineyard in St. Helena and the Cohn Vineyard in Rutherford (the source for the famous Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon). This fabulous, dense ruby/purple wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits a deep creme de cassis nose with hints of charcoal, graphite and spring flowers. Full-bodied, rich and youthful, it appears to have at least 20 years of life left in it. This is a wine that clearly flew under the radar, and if it can still be found and the provenance is excellent, it is definitely a big-time buy.
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Wine Spectator
A seamless effort that's pure, rich and elegant, well-focused on ripe currant, black cherry and plum flavors joined by touches of anise, black licorice and cedar. Most striking on the finish, where the texture is supple and the finish sails on.
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.