Winemaker Notes
Bing cherry-like fruit aromatics introduce a harmony of black fruit aromas, thoroughly ripe without a trace of over-ripeness. Initial flood of fruit on the palate gives way to gently gripping tannins that coat the palate, with lingering berry, chocolate and coffee bean suggestions.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A subtle, refined wine with blueberry and mineral character. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a delicately fruity finish.
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Wine Spectator
Deftly balanced, with an enticing mix of light, mocha-laced oak and a core of dark berry. Supple-textured, featuring notes of dusty earth, cedar and crushed rock, this ends with a long, sustained finish.
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.