Winemaker Notes
Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is bright, rich and full of personality. Deep purple in color, it has captivating aromas of boysenberry, black cherry and black raspberry. The flavors include blueberry, red currant, and blackberry. Youthful, exuberant and plush, this wine truly reflects the wonderful growing season in the exceptional 2021 Napa Valley vintage.
Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint comes from multiple vineyards across the Napa Valley but draws most heavily upon Rutherford. The separate lots are blended after approximately 12 months in barrel, then allowed to marry for a few months prior to bottling. Fruit-forward scents of blueberries, cassis and black cherries mark the nose, while the balanced, medium to full-bodied palate is silky, fine and elegant, with just the right amount of ripe, savory tannins on the finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Baked fruits and toasty oak aromas lead to richly layered blackberries, blueberries and cocoa in this full-bodied and warmly tannic wine. Aged in 50% new French barrels, it is well-structured for aging and has the concentration to match.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint is brilliant, and readers looking for a great Cabernet Sauvignon under $100 should snatch up bottles. Cassis, blackberries, chocolate, spice, and graphite notes all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, seamless mouthfeel and a great finish.
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Vinous
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint is packed with fresh blueberry, lavender, cloves, licorice and chocolate. Juicy and medium in body, this flavorful, vibrant Cabernet delivers the goods. Savory and floral notes linger on the close. As always, the Blueprint is a blend taken from various sites.
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James Suckling
Aromas of black cherries, brambles and vanilla bean followed by ground cloves, tobacco and a hint of eucalyptus. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm and juicy tannins. Underlying graphite notes on the palate.
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.