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
98 Points, Best of Class
Super-Tuscan style blend offering aromas of ripe berries and black fruits, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, raw tobacco, leather, clove, blood orange peel, and roasted walnuts. Rich and generous flavors of briary blackberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and cassis.
Modern, Sexy & Full
Aromas of wild blackberries and blueberries interwoven with enchanting notes of fresh mint, lavender, roasted walnut, savory spices, and a captivating hint of dark chocolate drizzled with fine balsamic. Notes of plum, blueberry and cassis with hints of wild sage, licorice, black pepper, and an elegant touch of fine-grained oak.
Plush & Velvety
Aromas of wild berries are interlaced with nuances of fresh lavender, dark chocolate truffle, baking spices, and cigar box, with generous flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and fresh currants are layered with hints of cocoa, cassis, allspice, and wild sage.