Winemaker Notes
The depth of fruit, superb structure, and potent yet polished character of the 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon places this among our best bottlings ever. Opening with multiple layers of black-skinned, earthy fruit nuanced with floral, spice, and mineral aromas, it is opulent and multifaceted. Building to tremendous presence, the wine gradually gives way to an enduring finish of fine-grained tannins.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Sweet cherries, cassis, warm herbs, vanilla and sweet spices on the nose. It’s full-bodied with chalky tannins. Rich and creamy, with loads of sweet berries and sweet spices on the palate and onto the dense finish.
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.