Winemaker Notes
This gorgeous wine greets the nose with fragrant aromas of dried Mission figs and hints of thyme. The flavors that follow include berry compote, red cherry, vanilla, light brown sugar and hints of cocoa. It’s a bright, juicy wine with many layers and soft supple tannins that lead to an elegant finish.
Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Aged in French and American oak, this dynamic blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec offers up scents of huckleberry, dried herbs, and vanilla. An incredibly silky entry of ripe blueberry preserves captivates with a luxurious mouthfeel. The textural sensations continue with melting dark chocolate, graphite, and a coat of anise.
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Wine & Spirits
Sara Fowler blends this wine from five of the Peju family’s estate vineyards, based on 75 percent cabernet sauvignon with merlot, petit verdot and malbec. This is a gentle Napa Valley red, subtle in its scents of madrone and leather, brisk and bright in its cherry flavor. The tea-like tannins remain in the background, making this wine a complement to wood-grilled vegetables, from onions and peppers to eggplant and wild mushrooms.
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Wine Spectator
Aromas of black fruits, peppermint, bark and dried herbs. Full body with plush tannins. Fruity and chocolatey with fresh acidity and a lively finish.
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.