Winemaker Notes
#53 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2018
On the nose this wine has notes of sweet vanilla, pepper and spice followed by blackberry, strawberry, and berry pie. On the palate the wine is round and full bodied with notes of red fruit and bright acidity. This wine will continue to age well for at least 10 years.
Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Rich, smoky oak and plump dark berry, mocha, cedar and sage flavors form an enticing mouthful, supported by a supple, caressing texture, ending long and full. Drink now through 2030.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A barrel sample made up of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of cedar, earth and sage with blackberries, mulberries and spice box suggestions. The full-bodied, approachable/open-knit palate shows notable toasty oak, good concentration and chewy tannins, finishing long and spicy.
Barrel Sample: 89-91 -
Connoisseurs' Guide
7% Merlot; 6% Cabernet Franc; 2% Malbec; 1% Petit Verdot. Following hard on the heels of the very successful 2014 version, this tasty offering again earns full commendation for its rich and ripe approach coupled with more than adequate fruit, smoky hints of barrel and an intriguing whiff of bacon. It is full on the palate and somewhat tannic, but not inappropriately so, and has the stuffing to stand up well to the half dozen years of age that it needs to come fully into its own. For the nonce, it is more than capable of serving well with dishes like standing rib roast or a garlicky leg of lamb. And while it does not quite garner our Good Value imprimatur, it is decently priced in today’s market for Cabernet Sauvignon.
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.