Winemaker Notes
Our Allomi Vineyard enjoys a bit of heat, which is just the thing for Cabernet Sauvignon. While Pope Valley is less well known than some other Napa AVAs, the combination of steady heat and well-drained clay loam soils allows fruit to ripen evenly, gaining welcomed complexity and layers of flavor. We consistently see beautiful yields from the Allomi Vineyard, and 2016 was no different. On the nose, this wine delivers intriguing vegetal aromas with hints of mushroom and forest floor. On the palate, Allomi Cabernet is known to deliver moderate, well-integrated tannins and a round, plush mouthfeel making it one of our most popular Napa offerings. A wonderful brightness of raspberry and red plum delight the mid-palate, and these flavors are supported by a subtle oak spice that adds to the personality of the wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Bold black fruit expand on the palate, with a lengthy powder keg of tobacco, gun smoke and cigar box shining through. The tannins are persistent yet soft. Editors’ Choice.
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James Suckling
This blend of 85 per cent cabernet sauvignon with touches of petite sirah, malbec, petit verdot and merlot, has a ripe-plum and blackberry core that delivers sweetly attractive and fresh into the finish. Drink or hold.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: There is a reason why Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons are so popular: They are excellent wines. The 2016 Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon over-delivers for the money. TASTING NOTES: This is a well-conceived wine. Its aromas and flavors of ripe berries and sandalwood stay long on the palate. Pair it with barbecued baby back ribs, and keep the sauce on the side.
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.