Winemaker Notes
Generations Cabernet Sauvignon is the signature red wine of Raymond Vineyard & Cellar. Specially selected and fermented separately in vineyard specific lots, the wine receives 25 months of aging in 60 gallon oak barrels. The resulting wine is deep, intense, and complex from start to finish. Full bodied, it has the potential for long term aging if desired. This rich, luscious wine complements grilled filet mignon with cracked black pepper, prime rib, braised short ribs in red wine sauce, roast pork loin with dried fruit, lamb shanks or leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary.
Opening aromas of plum, violets and spice are followed by cedar, anise and cassis. On the palate, this full bodied wine brings forward concentrated black fruits of plum, blueberry and black cherry followed by cassis, chocolate, star anise, a hint of spice and a long, velvety finish touched by vanilla. This wine has exceptional structure, complexity and deep rich flavors that evolve with each sip. Generations Cabernet is known for its velvet texture that yields to a long, lingering finish.
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.