Winemaker Notes
Converging tectonic plates, subduction zones, geosynclines, volcanic eruptions, huge alluvial washes and the five million years of daily weathering all for the single purpose of producing the unique gravelly loam soils ideal for cabernet sauvignon. Perhaps the surest sign of a wine of character is that it has the ability to transport you, captivate you and ultimately draw you back to its source of uniqueness.
The 1997 Rutherford, with its high percentage of cabernet franc, has beautiful aromas of blackberries and earth. The flavors are fabulous, full of igneous chirts, franciscan sediments and millions of old alluvial pebbles. This is truly a wine of time and place. -John Williams, Winemaker
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.