Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Very much geared to ripeness with plenty of sweet, cassis and cherry richness making for an expressive aromatic start then showing secondary notes of mushrooms and earth as its initial fruit retreats a bit with air, this mouthfilling Cabernet follows with rich, fully developed flavors. While still a little tough at the end, it has not wholly let go of its fruit, but its drift to tannic dryness is a warning that further age may not be on its side. It should keep for another half-dozen years without showing marked improvement and looks to be at its best when paired with hearty beef roasts before too much more time has passed.
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.