Winemaker Notes
Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Samantha's Estate is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot that spent 21 months in 97% new French oak. This beauty just jumps from the glass with its crème de cassis, liquid violet, lead pencil, chocolate and graphite. Rich, concentrated, gorgeously balanced, opulent, and heavenly in just about every way, it gives the Estate Cuvee a run for its money and is more than worth your time and money.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Samantha's gives a deep garnet-purple color and delivers a pleasantly meaty nose of beef drippings and charcuterie with underlying baked cherries, red and black currant notions and a waft of cigar boxes. Full-bodied and firmly structured with chewy tannins and compelling freshness, the palate features loads of savory black and red fruit flavors and a nice long finish.
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Wine Spectator
This is full of boysenberry, fig and blackberry compote flavors, laced with licorice root and roasted apple wood notes, all carried by a swath of loamy grip through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
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.