Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 100% certified organic Cabernet Sauvignon from top vineyard lots spanning the Napa Valley, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve reveals a youthful nose of bright cassis and blueberry fruit intermixed with sweet herbs, eucalyptus, and cedar pencil. I love its purity of fruit, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and polished tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
ZD's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve remains something of an anachronism in Napa Valley, being aged exclusively in American oak. Having recently tasted the excellent 2015, I can say that in the right hands, with the right barrels and the right fruit, American oak can yield excellent results. Cedar and vanilla shadings accent mixed red and black cherries on the nose, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is rounded and supple, not overly rich or concentrated but nicely balanced, silky and long on the 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.