Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Albeit a very young wine, this complex and com-pelling take on Napa Valley Cabernet already conveys the sense of layering and fruity depth that marks the best of the breed. Its deep and articulate themes of cassis and ripe cherries are nicely enriched by attractive elements of vanilla-bean sweetness, toast and deft forest-floor spice, and, while fairly tannic, it is always supple and polished in feel. It is never a bold or boisterous wine, but it can be counted on to gain in both beauty and grace for five to ten years.
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Wine Enthusiast
A very good but not great Cask 23, showing plenty of decadence and flair but not perhaps that extra edge of complexity. It’s forward now in sweet new oak and flashy, jammy blackberries, cherries and raspberries. The tannins are quite an achievement, rich, vibrant and supple. Made from 100% Cabernet, it’s full-bodied and dense, with a chocolaty finish. Could gain in the bottle beyond 2012 to about 2018.
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.