Winemaker Notes
Bold and powerful, the State Ranch Cabernet opens with aromas of wild berries, violets, and crushed stone. The palate features abundant blackberry, blueberry, and cranberry flavors, complemented by cardamom, clove, and rich, velvety tannins. With natural acidity and a silky balance, this wine from rocky, well-drained soil will evolve beautifully over the next decade.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Compact and full-bodied, with intense, chewy tannins that balance muscular power with freshness. Leans toward the dark-fruited profile reminiscent of the 2019 vintage, combined with the vibrant acid tension of 2021. The grapes were mostly harvested before the heatwave, ensuring ripeness balanced by an excellent core of juicy, firm acidity. A finely tuned, powerful Cabernet that captures depth and vibrancy in equal measure. Aged for 20 months in 55% new French oak. Sourced from the 12ha State Ranch Vineyard northeast of Yountville off State Lane Road.
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James Suckling
A lush, plush, full-bodied wine that is saturated in dark fruit and subtle oak spices. Such a broad, velvety texture, with generous aromas of red and black fruit and a palate full of raspberries, black cherries and dark plums. Ample cocoa, spearmint and creme de cassis flavors on melted, fine-grained tannins for a soft mouthfeel.
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Wine Enthusiast
Full-bodied yet silken, this ample Cabernet oozes with rich chocolate, cassis, a mix of fruit liqueurs, coffee and spices. Generous and enveloping, allow air upon opening and enjoy with rich and savory foods.
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Wine Spectator
Solid for the vintage, with a core of red and black currant paste laced with licorice and singed alder, plus a flash of warm earth. Approachable already, which is in line with the vintage profile. Drink now through 2032. 3,200 cases made.
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.
One of Napa Valley's most historic sub-appellations, Yountville spreads through some of the valley's ideal cooler sites and enjoys success with a handful of different and significant grape varieties.
Syrah competes strongly with Cabernet Sauvignon here for optimal vineyard real estate followed by Pinot noir, Pinot blanc and Sauvignon blanc.
This sub-AVA of Napa Valley is rich in the history that makes Napa Valley what it is today, and not just for red wines. Moët & Chandon entered the California winemaking business via Yountville in 1973 with the establishment Domaine Chandon. Their goal has always been to produce top quality méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
Christian Moueix, originally responsible for managing Chateau Petrus and La Fleur-Petrus in Pomerol, arrived in Yountville in the early 1980s. He formed a partnership with Rohin Lail and Marcia Smith, inheritors of Napanook vineyard from their father John Daniel of Inglenook in Rutherford. In 1995 Moueix became sole owner of Napanook and chose the name Dominus, which today produces some of Napa’s highest scoring, age-worthy Bordeaux Blends.