Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Stretch Drive delivers a sleek, decadent Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass the wine displays a dark purple-red hue. Aromatic notes suggest dark chocolate shavings, nutmeg, blackberry compote, and cedar bark. The viscous palate is layered with an array of notes suggesting plum, tobacco leaf, cocoa nib, clove, and cassis reduction. There is a pleasing acid profile that frames the wine. This wine is very enjoyable today and should age gracefully in the cellar for years to come.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
The 2018s are a step up. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Stretch Drive has rocking levels of cassis, Asian spices, tobacco leaf, and violets to go with a medium to full-bodied, elegant, seamless style on the palate. I’d be thrilled to drink bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years.
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.