Winemaker Notes
Fresh roasted coffee, sweet cassis and aromatic blue fruits lead the way to full bodied deliciousness. Dense and compact, with firm tannins that fully support the cascade of mouth coating flavors. The finish is remarkably lengthy and complex. This wine is approachable upon release and cellar worthy in proper aging conditions
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Including 2% each of Malbec and Merlot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Silencieux has a classic, sweetly fruited, medium-bodied style that carries lots of dark, almost blue fruits (cassis, blueberries), notes of candied violets and cedar, ripe tannins, beautiful purity, and outstanding length. A smoking value, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for over a decade.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is an outstanding study in blending: bringing together the grapes of 11 vineyards across the valley and bringing in 2% Malbec and 2% Merlot. Juicy in dark cherry, plum and a fleshy, full-bodied midpalate, it is built around supple tannins and an enduring exuberance of balanced richness.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Merlot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Silencieux prances out of the glass with gregarious notions of black currant cordial, kirsch, blueberry preserves and potpourri plus suggestions of fallen leaves, cinnamon stick and aniseed. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with ripe black and blue fruits, supported by grainy tannins and loads of freshness, finishing on a compelling savory note.
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.