Winemaker Notes
The 2014 vintage unveils alluring aromas of bright cherry, blackberry, and ripe fig, with warm notes of molasses, toasted almonds, brown sugar and a hint of cedar and tobacco. A beautiful balance between juicy, ripe blue and back fruit and complex layers of black currant, caramel, ground coffee beans, clove spice, and dusty clay. Medium to full-bodied wine with the structure to age 5-8 years and lush tannins to enjoy now.
Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Currant, blackberry and fresh herb aromas follow through to a medium body, lightly chewy tannins and a chocolate and currant aftertaste. Give it a year or two to come together but already delicious.
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Wine Enthusiast
Blackberry toast and dark, sultry pencil shavings are nuanced in additional flavors of clove in this thick, densely built wine that presents as full bodied but finds its balance in the glass. A richness of chocolate and graham cracker rule the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley opens with cassis, espresso, earth and Marmite toast with hints of licorice and salami. The medium to full-bodied mouth is fairly simple but well done, open-knit with good expression and soft tannins.
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.