Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Tierra Roja immediately shows the more classic red fruit profile that you expect from their intense, iron rich soils. This shows a very floral side to the aromatics with roses, rosemary, lavender, and sage. The palate is firm but with sweet tannins and a bit of wet earth, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Tierra Roja tends to be fairly forward in its youth but always surprises with just how long and well it can go in the cellar.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Not many young Napa Cabernet Sauvignons can be called silky, but this elegant, memorable wine is one of them. A perfumed aroma of black currants, violets and brown butter is followed by milk chocolate, spearmint and cassis flavors. Fine-grained tannins add a bit of grip to the texture.
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James Suckling
Aromas of tile, dust, terra cotta and red fruit follow through to a full-bodied palate with clearly defined tannins that are layered and fresh. So drinkable and pretty.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tor's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja Vineyard—from an Oakville site on the eastern edge of the valley, just below Dalla Valle—delivers charming notes of cherries, redcurrants and cassis. It's full-bodied, supple, silky and long on the finish, with a touch of mocha, gentle herbal shadings and an overall sense of elegance.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from a steep hillside vineyard and red soils on the east side of Oakville, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja Vineyard delivers lots of red and black fruits as well as iron, new leather, dried flowers, and lead pencil aromas and flavors. Gorgeous on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a great mid-palate, supple tannins, and just a great mix of elegance and richness, this is classic 2019 all the way. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15-20 years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 TOR Tierra Roja Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon delivers lasting excellence on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of dusty earth, savory spices, and ripe fruits. Pair it with the first cut from a roast prime rib. (Tasted: May 11, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
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Vinous
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja Vineyard is bright and energetic, all in a mid-weight style that is quite attractive. Lifted floral accents, orange peel, spice, crushed rocks and earthy tones add an attractive aromatic upper register. This is an especially gracious wine from Tierra Roja. The 2019 is very nicely done.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.