Winemaker Notes
Unwritten's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of two prestigious vineyards from two distinct appellations: The Las Posadas Vineyard near the top of Howell Mountain and the Oakville Station vineyard in the heart of the valley, adjacent to To Kalon in Oakville.
Immediately one is reminded of the classic 2016 and 2018 vintages, vintages of classic precision and exacting focus. And yet 2021 has an added layer of pure power. Brambly blue notes of huckleberry are intermixed with pointed scents of dark cherries and toasted almond wood. The palate is serious, dense, and cut. Of course, this wine is still in its youth and will evolve beautifully over many decades.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from the Oakville Station and Las Posadas (Howell Mountain) vineyards and all varietal, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley reminds me of a great Pauillac (I wrote Pichon Baron in my notes) and has awesome notes of darker currants, graphite, and leather, with a Pauillac-like lead pencil character that I just love. These carry to a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon offering fabulous purity, fine yet building tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish.
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.