Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
One of the greatest wines in the vintage is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a higher elevation hillside vineyard in Oakville that was raised in 90% new French oak barrels. Just magical stuff that has incredible aromatics of crème de cassis, white flowers, huge minerality, violets, and scorched earth. This is followed by a massive, opulent, yet weightless wine that has off the charts purity of fruit, fine, fine tannin, perfect balance, and a finish that won’t quit. This legendary beauty will benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age and keep for three to four decades.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Materium Cabernet Sauvignon opens with earthy notions of tilled soil, moss and fungi over an exuberant core of black cherries, wild blueberries, red currants and Mediterranean herbs with a waft of lavender. Full-bodied and opulently fruited in the mouth, the palate delivers generous black fruit and herbal layers, structured with firm, chewy tannins, finishing on a lingering mineral note.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.