Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The heart of this wine comes from the Martin Stelling Vineyard around the producer’s property in Oakville and it contains small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Smooth edges of tannin and oak melt away on the succulent palate, allowing layers of plum, berry and dark chocolate to impress.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled checks in as a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, and the balance Malbec. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as classy notes of black plums, blackcurrants, graphite, damp earth, and roasted herbs, it's rich, medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, building tannins, and a chalky minerality on the finish. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and it will keep for 20 years or more. Rating: 93+
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James Suckling
A soft and delicious red with aromas and flavors of currants, blackberries and light vanilla. Medium-bodied, pretty and flavorful. Caressing and lovely. 95.5% cabernet Sauvignon, with petit verdot and malbec. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled is blended of 95.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.25% Petit Verdot and 0.25% Malbec. Deep purple-black colored, it has pronounced black currant pastilles, black cherry compote and red currant preserves notes with touches of dried herbs, unsmoked cigars and fallen leaves plus a waft of cedar. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm texture of grainy tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the muscular black fruit, finishing with an herbal lift.
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Wine Spectator
A focused, streamlined version, with hints of cedar and savory along the edges, while the core of steeped black currant and blackberry fruit moves along steadily. A dark humus element underlines the finish, giving this an old-school hint. Best from 2022 through 2032.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.