96 Points - Chris Sawyer "Sommelier to the Stars"
To separate itself from the massive number of Cabernets aged in French oak barrels, this elegant and complex release is aged in fine American oak. As a result, this high-end, limited release offering joins an elite class of producers, including Silver Oak, Peter Michael and Ridge Vineyards, which work with specialty barrels that are hand-crafted with fine-grain wood from oak forests in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and other selected states.
The fruit is from the famed Oakville & Atlas Peak appellations in Napa Valley and slowly aged for 24 months to allow plenty of time to soften the tannins and add layers of additional nuances to the finished blend.
Food Pairings: Blue cheese, roasted eggplant, pan-seared duck with wild berry sauce, juicy ribeye steaks, rack of lamb, and flourless chocolate cake.
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Alcohol: 14.5% by volume
Aging: 24 months on American oak
All Wines
95 Points, Double Gold
Deep ruby in color this wine is juicy and structured. Blueberry, black cherry and wild blackberry, framed by notes of sweet licorice, violets, sage and bay leaf. Firm tannins hint at a long life ahead in the cellar, and the wine remains impeccably balanced.
97 Points, Double Gold
Aromas of white peach and wild white plum, followed by ripe Persian lime, jasmine high times, tart green apple, and crisp star fruit. The mouth centers in with pomelo and ginger lime leading into a mid-palate of fresh squeezed lime over papaya and lime zest on top of light lemon curd.
97 Points, Best of Class
Bountiful, lavish and plush with aromas of plum, bramble berry, mocha, cedar, and red currant. The mouth is lush with a nice mix of red and dark fruit, with shades dark on the finish. There is a touch of espresso, ripe black cherry, and petrichor. The acid is nicely framed by juicy fruit and generous French oak.
