Winemaker Notes
From the start, the wine exhibits a great color and begins on the nose with notes of blackberry, pumpkin patch, plum, and cacao. On the palate, there are flavors of blackcurrant, dark fruits including blackberry with a hint of mocha. The tannins are bold and the wine has a long finish, balanced by medium acidity.
Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Cab Franc, 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Jeff Gaffner makes this blend from the Cheng family’s Hestan estate in the hills east of Napa Valley. Predominantly cabernet sauvignon, it includes four other Bordeaux varieties in a wine of finesse and intensity. While it is already showing some development, it has the build of a marathon runner, strong and formidable, without weight. The cherry-scented fruit and tannins are compressed into a fruit-skin savor, suggesting this will continue to evolve for several years to come.
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Wine Enthusiast
A youthful, tannic structure supports potent black fruits, cacao and espresso flavors in this full-bodied wine, achieving good balance despite its very firm texture.
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.