Winemaker Notes
Dark magenta in the glass, this muscular wine showcases Napa Valley terroir at its best. The nose opens with blue fruit and blackcurrant aromas that uplift and entice. A dense, richly fruited core of blueberry, boysenberry and blackcurrant commands attention, with subtler notes of graphite and baking spices adding dimension. Powerful and fresh, this full-bodied wine sustains spicy blueberry, clove and sweet dried mint aromas through a satisfying finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The appellation 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a beauty and well worth seeking out for those who love up-front, opulent Napa Valley Cabernet. Lots of cassis, blueberries, violets, cedary herbs, and tobacco notes define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, with a rounded, expansive texture, sweet tannins, and a beautiful finish. Drink this hedonistic, sexy beauty over the coming 10-15 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon comes galloping out of the glass with energetic scents of ripe black cherries, fresh black berries and blackcurrant cordial plus nuances of unsmoked cigars, cedar chest and pencil lead with a waft of wild sage. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, the palate is beautifully poised with bags of freshness countering the concentrated flavors and a fine-grained frame, finishing long with a minty kick.
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.