Winemaker Notes
2021 is an exciting vintage for the Ranch cuvée. As always blended entirely from estate grown fruit, the Cabernet Sauvignon came from the Lost Orchard block at the top of the property and the Pool block at the lowest elevation on our 160 acre homestead, enhanced by Merlot from the Lost Vineyard block and a dash of Petit Verdot. The 2021 Ranch is dense and crunchy with aromas of crushed black cherries, brambles and plum. On the palate it is bright and full of red fruit, with a crisp finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Alder smoke and warm earth lead the way, with a core of steeped black currant and blackberry fruit following closely behind. This is dense from start to finish, offering hints of savory, worn cedar and tar that add range and grip through the finish. Leans old school in feel. Best from 2025 through 2040. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 795 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Delicate sage and cedar shadings accent bright cherries and dark berries in Snowden's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch. It's medium to full-bodied and silky textured, with fine-grained tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not overdone in any dimension, this nicely restrained and balanced Cab finishes with a touch of mocha. Enjoy it over the next decade.
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.