Winemaker Notes
Deep purple. Intense and complex bouquet of red, black and blue berries intermixed with notes of cassis, Quesch plum, blond tobacco and a hint of black pepper. Full bodied, the palate is reminiscent of the nose, with a creamy texture and beautiful depth. The silky tannins and complex aromas create a harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long and smooth finish. This early charming, generous and collectible wine is particularly representative of this unique vineyard site. Coeur de Vallee features the interaction of the clayish yet well-drained gravelly volcanic soil, the site’s micro-climate and the low-interventionistic Morlet winemaking approach.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Great depth and intensity on the nose with blackcurrants, blueberries, mocha and light coffee. Yet this is always so refined. Full-bodied yet tight and reserved with fantastic texture and depth. Handmade. Drink or hold.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a vintage marked by a warm second half of the growing season, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vallee boasts a hint of tobacco on the nose, plus black cherries and some gentle earthy-savory notes. In the mouth, it's full-bodied, slightly open-knit, then clean and zesty on the finish. Sourced from Beckstoffer To Kalon, just as vintages 2007–2016 were, it's a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc.
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.