Winemaker Notes
A bright and enticing nose of cassis, black cherry, mint and charred wood notes. This wine is elegant and expressive, offering a rich and dense palate of tobacco, espresso, sandalwood, prunes, and Earl Grey tea. Now in its second decade, the tannins are still prominent but essentially well integrated, silky and smooth. A classic Napa Cabernet true to its vintage.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This historic estate was acquired by William and the late Mary Seavey in 1979, and their first eye-opening performances, for me, were the 1990 and 1991 Cabernet Sauvignons. Primarily dry-farmed, from steep hillsides in Conn Valley, the challenge, according to winemaking consultant Philippe Melka, has always been to get the tannins under control, as they can be rustic. Certainly he has achieved that consistently for the last decade. The second wine, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Caravina, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from younger vines as well as lots that are deemed slightly less intense and more evolved and precocious. The 2005 was showing very well, fully mature, with stunning aromatics of chocolate, loamy soil notes, blackcurrants and licorice. Intense, medium to full-bodied, supple and round, this is a gorgeous second wine
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.