Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Absolutely compelling, the magnificent 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari Reserve boasts a fabulous bouquet of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, spring flowers, graphite and a hint of toast. It has an unctuous texture, a full-bodied, multidimensional mouthfeel, stunning purity and a youthfulness that belies its ten years of age. This Napa Valley Cabernet is reminiscent of a great first-growth Pauillac such as Mouton-Rothschild. Still an infant in terms of its ultimate evolution, its anticipated maturity is between 2016 and 2040. Kudos to winemaker Andy Smith and proprietor Cam Baker.
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Wine Spectator
A ripe, rich, zesty style with a flash of raspberry jam mixed in with currant and plum fruit, giving it an unusual flavor profile that's not your typical Napa Valley Cabernet. Still, it's very complex and loaded with ripe fruit flavors, finishing with a dash of nutmeg and firm tannins.
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.