Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Fruit from three estate vineyards-Rockerbox, Hopper House, and Yountville Ranch-have created a lush Cab that romances the nose with deep, dark aromas of black currant and espresso. Blended with fractions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot and aged just over a year in (39% new) French oak, it releases a rush of plum jam, tobacco, and leather that coincides with beefy, round tannins and bal- anced acidity. Bold and luxurious notes of vanilla bean and crushed almond accent cedar and pencil lead on the broad finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
A pronounced and attractive oak aroma leads to generous cassis and black-cherry fla- vors in this spicy, full-bodied wine. Tempting toast, vanilla, cinnamon and clove scents keep going on the palate to complement the dark fruitiness.
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James Suckling
Cocoa bean, licorice and clove notes to the blackberries and salted plums on the nose. A hint of tobacco savoriness, too. Smoothly rendered on the medium-bodied palate, with nice fluidity and juicy berries that follow through to a medium-long finish. Drink now.
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.