Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A red with a pretty density of ripe fruit and velvety tannins. Full body, solid tension and a flavorful finish. The finish is exciting.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Another of the producer's 100% varietal wines, this comes from two head-turning sites: Broken Rock Ranch at the foot of Atlas Peak, and Beckstoffer Las Piedras. The two marry well, offering sizable tannin and power atop complex layers of leather, cedar, pencil lead and coffee. Soft, integrated oak makes the wine enjoyable now, while its structure suggests further time in bottle, too. Drink now through 2021.
Cellar Selection -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The beautiful 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc) has a deep ruby/purple color and a sweet nose of spring flowers, blueberry and blackcurrant fruit. On the palate the wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, lush and impressive. This is a nice surprise from a winery I had not previously experienced. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
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.