Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is finesse-driven, offering lush fruit and classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon character, with blackberry and black cherry fruit layered with dark salted chocolate and espresso bean nuances. Fine-grained, polished tannins shape the palate, while a wave of freshness carries through in notes of crushed stones, saline acidity, and fragrant dark berry fruit on the finish. Positively delicious, with a freshness factor that surpasses the already impressive 2022 vintage. In 2023, the wine was aged for 18 months in 45% new French oak. Lattice Run Vineyard, planted in 1998 to Clone 337, is known for producing plush fruit in its youth; as the vines mature, that early generosity has evolved into greater layered intensity, with smaller berries contributing structure and concentration. Located along the western bench of Yountville, just north of Sleeping Lady Vineyard, the site is owned and meticulously farmed by the Bettinelli family. Gravelly Cortina series soils provide excellent drainage, while the vineyard’s lattice-style trellis system promotes airflow and sunlight exposure.
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.