Winemaker Notes
Ripe currant, fresh Bing cherry, dark plum, with a hint of sage. Full-bodied with soft tannins, a velvety mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish. BLEND: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 4% Merlot, 3% Petite Sirah, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is really juicy and delicious already with plums, dried fruit and hints of figs. Some chocolate and walnut undertones. Medium to full body, creamy-textured tannins and a flavorful finish. Very well done for the vintage. 85% cabernet sauvignon with malbec, merlot, petite sirah and petit verdot. Drink or hold.
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Tasting Panel
Ripe, lovely and long with a tangy, generous style; bright, juicy and balanced. A Cabernet with four helpers: 7% Malbec, 4% Merlot, 3% Petite Sirah, and 1% Petit Verdot.
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Decanter
Vibrant fresh cassis and blackberry complemented by wonderful wood smoke aromas. Rich yet smooth and supple with purple flower intensity and a lovely lingering finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Tones of plum and earth are set against notes of currant, orange and baking spice in this light-bodied wine. The oak is well integrated and the tannins are soft and supple.
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Wine & Spirits
Cool and clean, this is a rich young cabernet that’s more gracious and sophisticated than its price would suggest. It’s saturated with juicy cherry and red-plum flavors, its tannins firm and zesty. Buy it by the case. Best Buy
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.