Winemaker Notes
This 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the quintessential example of a valley floor Cabernet. Its color is black as night and the nose bursts with fresh black cherries, blueberry pie, blackberry bon bons and hints of milk chocolate. Its balance and mid-palate are most notable, providing smooth tannins alongside its intense fruit character. On the palate, it delivers rich and sweet figs, plush tannins, cedar and a touch of licorice. The beautiful underlying tannin structure, complexity, and ample fruit will evolve over time and age gracefully for 10-15 years.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Deep and savory notes of blackcurrants, mulberries and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with chalky tannins and balanced acidity, giving notes of wild blackberries, sarsaparilla and dried herbs. Nicely balanced and generous. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Ripe fruits with a sprinkle of oak spices gain fruit-sweetness on the palate with flavors of crushed walnuts and pecans and light toast. Round tannins carry a juicy, open palate into a persistent finish. Enjoyable now with decanting or ready to hold several years in cellar.
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Decanter
A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec, aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak. Ripe brandied Morello cherries and toasty cedarwood lead the nose, accented by walnut. Full-bodied and well-framed, with crisp, fine tannins supporting rich cherry fruit that evolves into a compote-like character on the palate. Notes of toasted cumin seed and decadent toffee round out the finish. A bit riper and more full-throttle than in cooler vintages, yet still balanced and deeply satisfying.
Whitehall Lane Winery was founded in 1979, but the history of the soil cultivation dates back two centuries. In the mid 1800's, Napa Valley settlers were drawn to the gravelly-loam soils and ideal climate, planting high quality grape vines at the Whitehall Lane Winery site. A barn constructed in the early 1900's for equipment storage is still used today. In 1979, two brothers started the winery and directed their winemaking efforts successfully to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They named the winery after the road that runs along the southern border of the property, Whitehall Lane.
In 1993, the Leonardini Family purchased the Whitehall Lane Winery estate. They updated the winemaking and barrel-aging program and introduced a scientific approach in the vineyards. The winery now owns seven prime vineyards that are the cornerstone on which the wines are made. They include two vineyards in the St. Helena Appellation, three vineyards (including the winery) in the Rutherford Appellation, one vineyard in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley and one vineyard in Sonoma Valley.
In its short history, Whitehall Lane has developed into a world-class winery. The efforts of the Leonardini Family are evident in the run of accolades from wine publications but are even more apparent in their elegant, beautifully made wines.
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.