Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Turnbull's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, their least expensive wine in this portfolio (that I tasted for this report) is the most forward and precocious of the cuvées and shows what great winemaking and vineyard sources the Turnbulls are dealing with. The color is opaque purple, the wine shows slightly less tannins than its counterparts, with gorgeously intense blueberry and blackberry fruit, cedar wood, forest floor and spice box. It's full-bodied, opulent, rich and, while still young with a good 10 years of upside, this wine will still be drinking great 20 years from now.
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James Suckling
Lots of blackberry, black cherry and lavender aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, lots of ripe fruit and chewy tannins. Juicy wine. A big and muscular style but a freshness and savoriness makes it thoroughly enjoyable. Better after 2018.
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Wine & Spirits
Turnbull grows this wine at two estate vineyards in eastern Oakville, Leopoldina in the hills, and Fortuna on the valley floor. This 2013 is a plump cabernet, with plenty of sweet strawberry and dark cherry flavors to juice up the buzz of its alcohol. The sweetness of the fruit combines with the bristle of tannins to present a soft, round red.
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.