Winemaker Notes
This dense ruby-hued Cabernet Sauvignon leads with wildly aromatic black and red currants and floral notes of violet, lavender and rose. Cracked pink peppercorn and savory spice give further depth to the aromatics. On the palate sumptuous blackberries and ripe Bing cherries meld with hints of kola nut, cordovan leather and dark mole. Wonderful tannin structure carries decadent layers of chocolate raspberry cake and creme de cassis into a long lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Really ripe and takes an exotic bent, with a mix of loganberry, mulberry and boysenberry fruit compote flavors infused liberally with licorice snap and wood spice accents. Shows lots of apple wood and mesquite through the finish, which is carried by a tarry spine. Showy and pulls it off. Best from 2023 through 2035.
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.