Winemaker Notes
The 2014 Tusk is an example of the best of the 2014 vintage has to offer. It has classic, sweet, and ripe fruit characteristics. The nose is dark and purple, but the palate is red and light on it's feet. Loaded with finesse and subtle notes of gunpowder and quince, the structure is powerful for it's size and reminiscent of the great super Tuscan wines. Slow moving, like an underground river, the wine is always denser than it's weight, with a fascinating progression on the palate, offering glimpses of a stunning future, and leading into a mesmerizing finish that caresses the senses.
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.