Winemaker Notes
The 2019 The Estates Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, chocolate, nutmeg, and subtle oak with flavors of black plum, blackberry, blueberry, and fine, well-integrated tannins. Juicy with good acidity and a beautiful flow from entry to finish.
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 1% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of lead pencil, redcurrant, gravel, blackberry and sage. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Lovely depth and complexity here, with a wash of black fruit. Powerful, without being overdone. Delicious. Best after 2024.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Almost entirely from To Kalon (there's 3% from the former Franciscan property), the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon The Estates Oakville is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 1% Merlot. It's a deeper, earthier wine than the Stags Leap version, with loam notes joining plum and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, plush and velvety, it finishes long, with softly dusty tannins. Best After 2023.
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Wine Spectator
Reserved in style, with a core of gently mulled black currant and blackberry fruit liberally laced with singed cedar, vanilla and tobacco leaf accents. Reveals a late tug of warm paving stone on the finish. Shows more of its Cabernet Franc edge in the end. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2032. 1,482 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.