Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon gives beautiful crushed red and black currants, blackberry compote and wild blueberries scents with touches of menthol, cigar box and fertile loam plus a waft of wild sage. Full-bodied and firm, with bags of savory and earthy layers, it's framed by a rock-solid structure, finishing very long.
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Wine Spectator
A big, broad-shouldered version, with a ganache note pulling the core of steeped black currant, fig and bitter plum fruit along. Ample tar and espresso accents course through on the finish, which ends with a tug of alder at the very end.
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.