Winemaker Notes
The wine was aged for 19 months in 100% French oak, of which 30% was new French oak. The wine was bottled unfiltered, contributing greater texture and presence to the mid palate. It has aromas of cherry, candied violet and red fruits with a touch of sandalwood and maple. Flavors include black currant and cocoa nibs. Enveloping on the palate, this wine is juicy with melting tannins and a kiss of minerality on the finish.
Blend: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah, 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 40th Anniversary is a blend of 17 vineyards, with the dominant part from the Rutherford Estate. The final blend was 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, Malbec and Petit Syrah. This was aged 19 months in about 30% new French oak and bottled unfiltered. A real beauty, and, for a top Napa Cabernet, an excellent price point. The wine has a dense bluish purple color, a sweet kiss of crème de cassis, licorice, camphor and subtle toast. Relatively opulent on the attack and midpalate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with silky tannin, adequate acidity and impressive purity and length.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Dusty and tannic, this is a solid value for its quality—a wine of freshness and grip that offers complexity and approachability in equal measure. Black-cherry and black -pepper flavors highlight the palate.
-
Wine Spectator
Shows off a profile of currant, red berry and red licorice notes. Dense without being weighty, avoiding a tannic overload. Ends with a long, persistent finish. Best from 2019 through 2029.
-
Decanter
Starts shy, then slowly but surely reveals good concentration and a nice floral component. A herbaceous note below the dark fruit. This is tangy and vibrant, making a change from the frequently overripe styles.
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.