Winemaker Notes
This bottling has consisted of new sites, declassified barrels from single vineyard wines and vineyards that fell out of contract along the way. It's a diverse mix but the common thread is there has always been a minimum of 4 sub-AVAs represented in every edition giving a broad geographic view into the vintage as a whole.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Proprietary Red is another rock-solid 2020 that has the vintage's dense, compact feel while staying balanced. Red and black currants, mulberries, iron, leather, and violet notes define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and outstanding length. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Carmenere, and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 60% new oak.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is largely a blend of material that for one reason or another didn't make the cut to get into a single-vineyard bottling. Sourced from several different AVAs in the Napa Valley, it's mocha, dark fruit and scented of cola, full-bodied, plush.
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.