Winemaker Notes
Robust and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ladera Estate Cabernet Sauvignon displays ripe fruit aromas of blackberry, black currant and plum, with sophisticated hints of vanilla, clove and spice. On the palate, there is a lovely underlying intensity that frames the pure, black fruit flavors, with ripe, supple tannins carrying the wine to a long, resonant finish. A real crowd pleaser, this wine can be enjoyed now, but will age beautifully for at least the next decade.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Grapes from Howell Mountain and Calistoga make up this sturdy yet silky red with just a small percentage of Petit Verdot. For all its concentration and power, the mountain fruit enables the wine to maintain its complexity without overwhelming the palate. Cedar and chocolate braid through high-toned blue fruit. Fennel, black tea, soy sauce, and black pepper merge on a highway to heaven.
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.