Winemaker Notes
Violets, black currants, brambly blackberry and cocoa powder jump out of the glass. The entry is full and mouth coating with black cassis, blueberry compote, and hints of smoked meats and mocha. The perfect harmony between power and finesse, the ‘29 Estate’ Cabernet possesses such richness and concentration with a velvety texture and firm acid and tannin profile. Incredibly balanced and complex throughout, this estate Cabernet will be shining for over two decades.
Blend: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
One of the flagship releases, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate comes from the estate vineyard in St. Helena and is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged 20 months in 85% new French oak. It has a deep purple hue as well as a concentrated, full-bodied, masculine style that's very much in the vintage. Blackcurrant, scorched earth, chocolate, tobacco, and licorice notes all dominate the bouquet, but this puppy is closed, backward, and in need of 4-5 years of bottle age. It's loaded with potential, however, and has ripe tannins and a great mid-palate.
Rating: 95+
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Containing a splash of Petit Verdot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate is deep garnet-purple colored with black currant pastilles, preserved plums, baked raspberries, underbrush and sautéed herbs with menthol and chocolate box. The palate is full-bodied, firm and muscular with a fair bit of chew and a clipped finish.
Rating: 91+
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.