Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc, this is a tremendous wine, offering grippy red-currant, tobacco and graphite components around a full-bodied core of weight and breadth. Powerful, with elegant leanings, it retains and celebrates much of the Cab Franc character in its unabashed embrace of dried herb, clove and violet. Enjoy best 2025–2030.
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James Suckling
A dense and layered red with red tile, currants and hints of black peppers. Full-bodied and juicy with beautiful density and length. Granular tannins. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Needs two to three years to soften.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 LMV Salon is a cuvee that’s moving towards being a Cabernet Franc-dominated release as the estate plants more Cabernet Franc. Cassis, spring flowers, chocolate and a rocky, river bottom-like earthiness all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated, tannic 2015 that has exceptional purity and a great finish. Give bottle 3-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Lmv Salon Proprietary Red has an earthy, meaty, gamy nose with a crème de cassis and preserved plums core backed up by Christmas cake and new leather with a medicinal waft. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with firm, chewy tannins and a good core of fruit, it's just a bit astringent and closed at this youthful stage.
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Wine Spectator
A supple, charming medley of spicy red and dark berry fruit, with black cherry and wild berry flavors standing out. Ends with a rich, juicy aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.