Winemaker Notes
The 2006 vintage has been described as a "growers" year by some vintners. After a late bud break due to an unseasonably cool spring, the Napa Valley experienced a record setting heat wave in July which allowed the grapes to catch up in ripening. An ideal mild weather pattern came in August and an "Indian Summer" followed into October allowing for slow and even ripening resulting in acids and sugars in perfect harmony.
Our 2006 Napa Cabernet is dark purple in color with aromas of violets, cassis framed by cedar and vanilla. The mouthfeel is focused with fine tannins and a long finish. We recommend pairing this wine with a prime Rib-Eye steak off the grill.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa reveals abundant aromas and flavors of cassis, new saddle leather, spice box, and licorice. Robust but sweet tannins, and impressive concentration and length suggest it will drink well for 10-12 years. This is another sleeper of the vintage that readers should be able to find discounted to under $50 a bottle.
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.