Winemaker Notes
The wine opens with abundant dark fruit on the nose such as plum, blackberry, and cherries, with a touch of leather and graphite. On the mouth it starts with lively acidity that brings a freshness to the wine, then it evolves on soft tannins and a very velvety texture—already showing great! There is a lot of tension and drinkability with this wine at release so it can be enjoyed immediately. This wine sets the standard for high-quality Napa Cabernets and will age beautifully for the next 15 years.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Plummy richness carries through this generous, succulent cabernet, its time in new oak barrels smoothing the tannins into the dark, delicious fruit. The flavors are simple and pure, with lovely depth. Ready to pour with filet mignon.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2016 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent and classic example of Napa Valley. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers attractive aromas and flavors of black fruit, pencil lead, and savory spices. Pair it with oven-baked short ribs. (Tasted: July 28, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the reds, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic wine from this estate that gives up hints of spicy oak as well as cassis fruits, medium to full body, outstanding purity of fruit, and a great finish. It’s another impeccably balanced wine from this estate.
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Wine Enthusiast
This well-made wine offers an experience of supple, smooth and hearty dark fruit, with a moderate amount of toasted oak. Blended with 13% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Franc, it is earthy and robust in sage, dried herb and violet.
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James Suckling
This offers a wealth of ripe, redder fruit with plums and mulberries on the nose and palate. The texture is supple to start and then firms up through the redcurrant-flavored finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is very deep purple-black in color and scented of warm cassis, baked plums and black cherry compote with hints of tar, sautéed herbs and tilled soil. The palate is full-bodied, with a good solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the muscular fruit, finishing on a juicy note. 4,000 cases produced.
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.