Winemaker Notes
The wine begins with cherry, toffee, coffee, plum, black currants, blackberry,
tobacco, cedar and pomegranate. A soft, rich attack with begins with cherry,
chocolate, plum, evolving into a very full mid-palate with immense weight and
layering of tobacco, chocolate and plum leading to a long finish of orange zest,
plum, chocolate, tobacco, black currant, blueberry. The wine exhibits a great
length with no hints of bitterness and displays a good tannin grain with wonderful
polish.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color and notes of chargrill, sautéed herbs, tilled earth, tar and fungi over a core of baked blackcurrants, crushed rocks, plum preserves and mulberries. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm, chewy texture and just enough freshness to support the understated fruit, finishing savory.
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.