Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spent 22 months in wood, of which 50% was new French. Now think about this ... the price will be $145 for the screw cap, but only $135 for the cork-finished wine. The 1998 displays great texture, and a sweet and expansive mid-palate, in addition to a fat, ripe finish. I don't really know how they pulled this off in 1998, but certainly some of the very best 1998 Cabernet Sauvignons have emerged from the Oakville corridor. The wine is full-bodied and beautifully scented, with aromas of cassis, plums, cherries, minerals, and smoke. Surprisingly full-bodied, with a plush texture in addition to layers of fruit and richness, it is a brilliant 1998 that can be drunk upon release or cellared for 15-16 years.
Barrel Sample: 91-93
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.