Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A dense yet fresh red with a blueberry and blackberry character and hints of tobacco and dark chocolate. Light bitterness adds to the complexity on the palate. Layered and beautiful. Juicy fruit at the finish. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A barrel sample, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple colored, with a decadent cassis, baked blackberries and plum preserves-scented nose, plus hints of spice cake, cedar and Marmite toast. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and wonderfully spicy in the mouth, it has velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long.
Range: 92-94 -
Decanter
Brooding and shy on the nose, this has a good portion of mountain fruit from Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain - predominantly Cabernet with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The body is full, the fruit is generous, and the alcoholic warmth is palpable. This is a big wine playing on ripe tannins and strength, but underneath all of that are some lovely cinnamon, blueberry and baked plum flavours - a promise for the future.
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.