Lail Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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#40 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of 2019
The 2016 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby with purple edges in color, with exotic aromas of black cherry, plum, cassis and dark chocolate. Echoing the aromas, spicy flavors of blackberry, mint and boysenberry add further intrigue and complexity. It is creamy, rich, lush and simply delicious.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a stunningly beautiful wine that is ageworthy, complex and will stay with you long after it's gone. Tones of cedar, clove and cinnamon start it off, followed by a dusting of cocoa powder and toasted oak. Lingering threads of crushed rock, violet and currant carry the finish. It finishes soft and silky.
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James Suckling
Subtle sweet-and-sour character with fresh tobacco and currants. Medium body and round, lightly velvety tannins. Flavorful finish. Juicy. Traditional and real. Complex. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made up of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot aged 17 months in 51% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint is deep garnet-purple colored and gives up expressive notes of warm plums, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with touches of Indian spices, black pepper, cigar box and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with spicy black fruit preserves, framed by velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a peppery kick.
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Robin Daniel Lail’s heritage began in 1879 with the founding of Inglenook Vineyards by her great -granduncle, the iconic Captain Gustave Niebaum. By the early 1890s, this brilliant man’s obsession for achieving the pinnacle of excellence earned Inglenook wines the status of being considered by many as the finest produced in the country.
The determination to achieve excellence was carried forward through the decades following Niebaum’s death in 1908, with a crescendo in the thirty years following the repeal of Prohibition under the meticulous, passionate stewardship of John Daniel, Jr., Robin’s father. The collection of Cabernets coming from his years of ownership is still celebrated today as some of the finest red wines on earth.
Although Inglenook was sold in 1964, the passion for winemaking did not fade. Robin inherited her father’s respect for tradition. After working as the personal assistant to her mentor, Robert Mondavi, for five years, she left in 1982 to co-found Dominus Estate with Christian Moueix. The following year she co-founded Merryvale Vineyards with Bill Harlan, serving as president for a decade, before finally launching on her eponymous venture, Lail Vineyards, with her two daughters in 1995. Today her family honors his legacy with their relentless pursuit to produce wines second to none.
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.