Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet in color. Vibrant layers of brambly dark berry, cassis, bay and mocha. Rich and concentrated with flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, chocolate and cassis. Good structure and well-balanced, with fine-grained tannins and a long finish of cassis and sweet vanilla notes.
Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 2% Malbec and Petite Verdot.
About Mount Veeder
Both Mount Veeder Winery and the rugged appellation take their names from an ancient volcano—a nearly 2,700 foot peak that crowns the southeast section of the Mayacamas Range, running between Napa and Sonoma. The Mount Veeder appellation encompasses 25 square miles of some of the steepest vineyards in California. Winemaking in the region dates back to the 1860s and by the late 1800s, the mountain hosted at least 20 vineyards and six wineries.
Pioneers who cultivated vineyards on Mount Veeder knew there was something special about wines from these steep slopes. Winemakers across the Napa Valley began to recognize that grapes from Mount Veeder and other mountain appellations had an intensity and depth unlike grapes from the valley floor. Powerful and distinct, mountain grapes challenged the winemaker to tame their rugged tannins and reveal a deeper character.
Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 2% Malbec and Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A beautiful Cabernet, rich and mellow, and drinking well now. Shows soft tannins and smoky oak framing blackberry, cherry, cocoa, herb and spice flavors.
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.