Winemaker Notes
Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Fabulous aromas of cabernet sauvignon with blackcurrants, blueberries, bark, fresh mushrooms and violets, follow through to a full body with an elegance that builds at the finish, leaving you with a freshness and minerality that goes on for minutes. Unique wine in so many ways.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Every time I approach the Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, anticipation surges and my pulse quickens. Goosebumps aside, the 2020 vintage stands as another triumph in the estate’s storied legacy. The nose unfurls with an alluring intensity—ripe blackberries at the peak of maturity intertwined with hints of violet, baking spice, and a graceful touch of cedarwood. On the palate, it is both powerful and refined, with layers of dark fruit cascading over fine-grained tannins and lifted by a vibrant core of acidity. The finish is long and harmonious, echoing blackberry, spice, and a lingering trace of graphite. While already captivating, this wine will reward patience, evolving into an even greater expression over the next decade and beyond. For the ultimate indulgence, pair it with Bresse chicken en croûte, stuffed with foie gras and black Perigord truffles, glazed with a sauce Périgueux, and served alongside buttery pommes Anna and morel mushrooms in cultured French butter—the wine’s depth and elegance are matched only by the sheer opulence of the dish. (Tasted: May 5, 2025, Napa, CA)
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.