Winemaker Notes
Notes of espresso, blueberry and ripe cherries greet you on the nose. The palate is silky and rich with expressive flavors of blackberry and cocoa. Fine and grainy tannins hold the layers of fruit together, offering papery texture and complexity. The finish is smooth and long lasting.
Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Intense aromas of rich currants, tapenade, grilled red pepper and dark chocolate. Broad, ripe and structured on the palate with ample tannins and a long yet vertical finish. Opulent but refined.
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.