Winemaker Notes
Enticing aromas of cherries, pomegranate, pluots, and bramble. On the first sip, experience a smooth, lush entry that unfolds into a rich palate of dry herbs and juicy black raspberries. This well-structured, medium-to-full-bodied wine delivers an elegant, mouthwatering finish with notes of blackberry jam, black pepper, and tobacco, complemented by refined cocoa powder tannins from its Rutherford fruit core.
Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This tank sample of the final blend before bottling shows an abundance of ripe, juicy, almost syrupy fruit flavors, from blueberries to blackberries and cherries. It feels soft and plush, tastes warm and broad and adds chocolate and vanilla accents to all the sweet-tasting fruitiness. Drink or hold.
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.