Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesDeep purple black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label is a little mute to begin, opening out to reveal notions of baked black plums, mulberries and lilacs over a crème de cassis and blueberry preserves core plus a touch of stewed tea. Full-bodied, the palate is filled with perfumed black fruit preserves, framed by grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
Rating: 95(+)
This is a gorgeously inviting, juicy and lengthy estate wine, decadent in plum and dark cherry. With supple tannin, it melds together on the palate, fully integrated and complex, with baking spice, dried herb and a hint of lavender standing by.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label is a beauty and one of the few 2017s that comes close to rivaling its 2016 counterpart. Ripe black (and some blue) fruits as well as plenty of smoked tobacco, graphite, dark chocolate, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the glass. It's rich, full-bodied, and has plenty of building tannins as well as good acidity. It's a terrific, balanced, ageworthy 2017 that's going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20 years or more.
Rating: 94(+)
Aromas of blueberries and brambleberries follow through to a medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh finish. A little lean, but very pleasing.
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.