Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This vineyard, high above the Meadowood Resort, has produced a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months. The label says 14.9% natural alcohol. Having once visited the proprietors, the Wornicks, it is well worth the effort to get an invitation to their property, given the extraordinary sculpture that one confronts on the high steep hillside road leading to the residence. This wine blew me away in the tasting, and again, it is another of the absolutely compelling, great, great wines of this vintage. Of course, it is limited in production, which is always a problem, but this is a candidate for perfection. Inky, bluish/purple to the rim, it has a seamless, full-bodied opulence, with stunningly pure creme de cassis, black cherry and liqueur notes mixed with licorice and incense, yet the 100% new oak is completely concealed. The wine has a hint of minerality and extraordinary richness, texture and a multidimensional mouthfeel and finish. This is one of the great young wines I have tasted recently and, of course, it’s still a baby at age ten. Kudos to Seven Stones! By the way, this is the only time I’ve met one of the Wine Advocate Bulletin Board participants, Roy Piper, who is doing his own thing these days, and I look forward to tasting his wines. Rating: 99+
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Wine Spectator
Bold and rich, with layers of dark berry, dried herb and savory notes. Full-bodied, showing a measure of elegance and finesse, ending with supple tannins.
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.