Winemaker Notes
The 2000 Reserve Cabernet is a beautiful, showy wine, spilling-over with spicy oak and aromatic cedar, centered on opulent black fruit. Absolutely rich, ripe and round. A cloak of vanilla, clove and seductive oak spice wraps around a deeply fruited core of currant and wild berries with hints of anise and chocolate that gradually give way to long, mouth-coating tannins.
Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A tour de force, at times smooth, rich and creamy, with layers of complex currant, blackberry, black cherry and mocha-laced oak. The flavors run deep and are persistent, with ripe, round tannins and the kind of concentration that bodes well for cellaring
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.