Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
An inaugural release from Chalone Wine Group, and an important one. Possesses the hallmarks of greatness, from the subtle but complex mingling of cassis, cherry, herb, tobacco, mint and dark chocolate flavors to the fabulously ripe, sweet tannins. Big and sturdy yet nuanced, this wine is gorgeous now and should last many years in the cellar.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
As full and plush as any recommended Cabernet in this issue, the Hewitt bottling is expansive in aroma and mouthfilling where it counts. Its outgoing ripe grape, cassis, caramel, forest and cocoa scents are reiterated in flavors that are convincing in their deep, inviting fruit. Tannins frame the latter palate and finish, and if the wine is a little on the soft front/tough back side in construct, it needs but a half dozen years of aging to show at its best with savory roasts and chops.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek, rich and concentrated, with a purity of flavors that are tight and focused, with tiers of currant, blackberry, cedar, anise and fresh loamy earth, finishing with a long, complex, persistent aftertaste and ripe integrated 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.