Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A sensational Cab that exhibits power and opulence in the ripe blackcurrant, cherry, cocoa and new oak flavors, yet is subtlely balanced and harmonious. Showcases preternaturally gorgeous tannins, soft and sweet. The more you sip, the greater the impression. Cellar Selection.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
As impressive as that is, slightly more impressive, more supple and complex is the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Opaque ruby/purple, with notes of spice box, toasty oak, black currant jam, and blackberries, it is layered, full-bodied, rich, expansive, and deep.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Medium-density riches of dark chocolate and creamy oak lift the ripe black cherry fruit at the heart of this tidy wine. Hints of cranberry add a note of brightness, and the wine's stellar balance and great length help it outlast a dose of tannin in the finish. It could use a few years of bottle age to gain greater smoothness and nuance, but its richness makes it a fine choice for steaks and roasts even now.
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.