Winemaker Notes
-Wine Spectator
Flavor and tannins had reached full development prior to harvest. Accordingly, the wine is elegant, showing soft berry fruit in the front of the palate. The middle palate has flesh, weight and richness, resulting in power. The tannins are balanced, supple and ripe, leading to a complex wine with many layers; velvety, silky, and seamless from front to back of the mouth.
"The site is unique in that it allows for a very long hang time between flowering and harvest. It allows the vine to maximize flavor and tannin development leading to a very rich and yet supple wine. Great vineyards are naturally balanced, produce smaller than average berries and produce vines that expose the cluster to the sun correctly in each vintage. This vintage was classic in that we had a very long period of warm dry weather well into September, when the grapes were harvested."
- Yolyn Goldschmidt
Professional Ratings
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.