Courtney Benham
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
, Rutherford
Napa Valley

93 Points, James Suckling

Classic Rutherford, fruit-forward and beautiful, with currants, light vanilla, light herbs and flowers.  Medium bodied and backed by Tulare Cherry, Plum, Pine Resin, Tobacco Leaf, Caramel with a polished finish.  This wine is tight and poised, beautiful and fresh at the end.  There's real Rutherford character in every glass.  Drink or hold.

VINEYARDS
From the heart of the valley foor, each vineyard experiences nearly perfect weather with lingering morning fog and warm daytime highs.

WINEMAKING NOTES
Maintained moderate temperature during fermentation until dry, then basket pressed into 40% new oak for 18 months.

VINTAGE
Although yields were cut short in 2020, particularly for red wines, as the intensely dry, low-yielding growing season helped deliver some intensely concentrated grapes, many were able to produce some deeply impressive wines capable of long-term cellaring.  And precisely because there won't be a lot of 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon around in years to come, collectors are already snapping up the few beautiful wines that were made.

Consulting Winemaker:  Keith Emerson
Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation:  Rutherford, Napa Valley
Harvest Date: September 26th, 2020
Aging:  Aged in 40% new French oak for 18 months.
Brix:  25.7
pH:  3.74
TA:  5.3 g/L
Alcohol:  15.1%

Tasting Notes  PDF

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