Winemaker Notes
The 2009 Seven Stones is a fruit-forward, rich Cabernet of black cherry, spice and chocolate flavors. It is a low-acid, hedonistic offering. It is their only vintage made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with previous vintages having a dollop of Merlot. Along with the 2005, this vintage is the most “ready to go” with an hour decanted, pairing well with Beef Burgundy. It has enough “stuffing” to age for another decade. If you like your Cabernet with lots of up-front fruit flavors, this is the wine for you.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet in color, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon rocks up with expressive crème de cassis, plum preserves and fruitcake scents plus underlying notions of dried bay leaves, crushed rocks, smoked meats and tapenade with a waft of black truffles. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and laden with spice-laced black fruit preserves, it has a solid frame of plush tannins and loads of freshness, finishing with fantastic length.
-
Wine Spectator
This striking Cabernet weaves together an impressive array of black licorice, gravel, dried berry, currant, cedar and wild flowers. Dense, concentrated, tight yet persistent, with a long, focused finish that keeps the flavors on point.
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.