Winemaker Notes
Blend: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve is softer and more upfront compared to the Black Label, offering a terrific perfume of cassis and black raspberry fruits supported by spicy oak and violets. It too is perfectly balanced, has full-bodied richness, and tons of character.
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Tasting Panel
A combination of two estate vineyards the steep Leopoldina and Fortuna, set on volcanic red soils-contribute to the complexity of this Oakville Cab. A flow of energy consumes the palate with generous notes of blueberry and cassis. The wine exudes restrained power through flavors of violets, graphite, and saddle leather.
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Wine Spectator
Displays showy flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and black currant preserves that stretch out beautifully over a polished structure, while flashes of warm loam, ganache, sweet bay and violet swirl through. Offers all that, plus a sense of freshness through the flamboyant finish. Drink now through 2042. 2,300 cases made.
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James Suckling
A firm and rich cabernet with dark berries, bark, dried leaves, cola and sweet spices on the nose following through to a full body with creamy tannins and texture. Lush and structured with a juicy core of blackberries and cherries at the finish with a spicy touch as well.
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.