Winemaker Notes
The pinnacle of our portfolio, Lot No. 1 is Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak form of expression. This wine showcases standout blocks from iconic Napa Valley vineyards, resulting in a blend that exhibits power, depth and intensity with a discernible measure of polish and elegance. With the 2019 vintage, notes of crème de cassis, black cherry, green olive and dried fennel root extend from the nose through to the supple, bold palate. The unctuous finish uncovers layers of oak that you would expect from a classic Napa Cabernet.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 95% new French oak. It is hitting all the marks of the 2019 vintage with exceptional acid tension balanced by imminently dark berry flavours and nuanced by perfectly integrated cedarwood spices. This is a wine built for the ages, with polish and poise. The use of less American Oak in favour of more French oak in the cellar has helped this wine find its voice, which rings out loud and clear in a full-bodied style that is polished, with precise blackberry fruit, beautiful forest floor notes, and gorgeous Chines five spice, graphite, and liquorice notes woven around a tapestry of extremely fine-grained tannins. Compact, tightly knit and mineral-rich on the long 60-second finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Martini's top Cabernet has been largely produced from purchased fruit in the past, but the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 1 is almost half from Stagecoach. It also includes important contributions from Coombsville, Mount Veeder, Howell Mountain and Calistoga. Cherries and cassis dominate the nose, graced with faint herbal notions and a delicate framing of new French oak. Full-bodied, expansive, rich and velvety, it finishes with softly dusty tannins and hints of cocoa.
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Wine Spectator
A ripe, polished style that flows easily, with cassis and warmed plum notes leading the way, backed by cocoa, melted licorice and roasted alder on the finish. Drink now through 2030.
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.