Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Fresh, plump and juicy, deep and concentrated, this full-bodied red delivers rich, lively plum, black cherry, blackberry, black licorice and spicy cedar flavors, with hints of tar. Shows both power and finesse, ending with loamy tannins. Best from 2013 through 2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with layers of black fruit, spices, menthol and minerals. It shows great intensity in its fruit, as it builds to the muscular, explosive finish. In 2008 this site was hit hard by the spring frost. According to Luc Morlet the vineyard was also affected by smoke taint from the fires that year, but frankly, that note is very, very faint in this wine, and similar notes also come through in the 2009. The 2008 is 94.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.5% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023.
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.