Winemaker Notes
“Pedregal” means a rocky place in Spanish, and that is certainly a distinguishing feature of the site. Aging the 2015 sur lies with bi-monthly ba^tonnage has coated the tannins and smoothly integrated the wood. We aged this vintage 23 months in new French oak barrels (Taransaud). Non-filtered.
Blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot: co-fermente
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from Napa, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard steps up on the richness scale and has Pauillac-like notes of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, mineral, and both red and black fruits. With full-bodied richness, a silky, layered texture, and straight-up brilliant purity, it’s a blockbuster Napa Cabernet that stays firmly in the classic style of David Ramey. Drink it over the coming two decades.
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Wine Enthusiast
Cofermented with 11% Petit Verdot, this is a serious, classically made wine from the generous appellation, Old World in its grippy structure and full embrace of cedar, pencil shavings and dried herb. Clove and peppercorn provide additional spice around a length of firm, integrated tannin and oak, finishing in a sanguine element of meat
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard is deep ruby-purple with aromas of mint chocolate and laurel, split cedar, pencil shavings, toasted cardamom, warm blackcurrant, blackcurrant bud, red cherries and licorice. Full-bodied, dense and rich in the mouth with integrated but firm, ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, it finishes long and dense. This still needs plenty of time in bottle! 647 cases were made. Rating: 94+
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Wine Spectator
A range of sage, mint and sassafras aromas leads off, followed by alluring raspberry and plum fruit. Shows a lightly mulled edge as all the elements meld together. Maintains a suave feel and lingers seductively on the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 647 cases made.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.