Winemaker Notes
This Cabernet is bold and expressive, opening with aromas of black cherry and licorice, layered with subtle notes of smoked bacon and dried herbs. The palate is richly textured, showing flavors of mint chocolate, plum, and milk chocolate, carried by fine, chalky tannins that lend structure and grace. A seamless finish lingers with depth and finesse, capturing the essence of Napa Valley.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Wow, a fresh-tasting, well-balanced Napa cabernet at a very affordable price. It offers raspberries, black cherries and hints of black olives, sage and cocoa on a moderately tannic texture. It shows good concentration and is enjoyable even at this young age.
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.