Winemaker Notes
Ripe red plums, boysenberries, and cherry liqueur capture the nose, as layers of spice box and sandalwood compel the first sip. On the palate, dark red berries glide with precision, carried by a thread of acidity that adds lift and definition. Fortuna Vineyard sets the tempo with signature freshness and spice-driven architecture, while Leopoldina contributes texture and power.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Perfumed aromas of wild blackberries, mulberries and dried herbs. The palate is full-bodied with fine tannins and focused acidity, showing notes of blood plums, cedar and tobacco. Refined and balanced. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Black plums, currants, chocolate, and violet notes define the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve, a ripe, full-bodied, fruit-forward effort that has sweet tannins and good length. It shows the softer, riper style of the vintage and will drink well for 8-10 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Normally a blend of fruit from the Leoplodina and Fortuna Vineyards, Turnbull's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve features hints of mint and cedar set against a core of black cherries and loam. It's full-bodied and supple—maybe it lacks a bit of structure relative to the top vintages—but is still excellent, with a long, mouthwatering finish.
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.