For over 20 years, Highlands Winery operated in "stealth mode." No flashy parties for critics, no chasing 100-point scores—just a crew of Napa legends (including veterans from Silver Oak and Cornerstone) making world-class Cab for those in the know.
But all good things must come to an end. Following the passing of partner David, the winery is taking its final bow with the 2020 Highlands Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Sourced from a premier, undisclosed Coombsville site, this is everything a "Swan Song" should be: Rich, opaque, and sophisticated.
The Vibe: An "old-school meets luxury" Cabernet crafted by industry insiders who finally decided to retire.
Palate: Surprisingly fresh for a 2020. It sidesteps the overripe "jammy" notes of the vintage, instead delivering urgent bursts of blackberry, cassis, and boysenberry.
Structure: The Coombsville terroir shines through with a cooler finish that reins in the center-valley richness. Expect seamless, velvety tannins and a sophisticated oak profile (20 months in French oak).
Coombsville, Napa Valley
Tucked into the foothills of the Vaca Mountains, the Coombsville AVA spreads out to the west of the town of Napa and up the slopes of Mt. George. The soil is primarily volcanic in origin and proximity to the Bay keeps the area awash in fog and sea breezes. Because of its proximity to the San Pablo Bay, Coombsville experiences cooler temperatures compared to AVAs further north, allowing later grapes harvest and at more developed phenolic ripeness. The wine shows generous soft tannins and notes of dark black fruits such as blackberry and blackcurrant while retaining moderate alcohol and refreshing acidity.
Vintage
Coombsville being a little cooler than the main part of Napa benefited by being able to ripen slowly and evenly and produced notable elegant Cabernet with fresh dark fruit, violet notes, and fine-grained tannins. Cooled by San Pablo Bay fog, the wines here display a more restrained profile than warmer Napa areas, and produced profiles that are opulent and velvety, with beautiful concentration, color and depth.
Winemaking
The fruit was harvested by hand, carefully destemmed, then sorted and gently crushed into small fermenting tanks for 12 days, with an additional time on the skins to maximize the extractions of aromas, flavors and tannins. The wine was aged for 20 months in new French oak barrels.
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Coombsville District, Napa Valley
Aging: 20 months
Type of oak: 100% French oak barrels
Harvest date: Sept. 23 – Oct. 10, 2020
Bottling date: August 2022
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 141 cases
Temperature Control Shipping
All Central, Midwest & Eastern orders ship via temp control truck.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
97 Points
Aromas of blackberries, graphite, and crushed rock, along with cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and a medley of dry herbs and spice.
A substantial mouthfeel, full-bodied structure, firm tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit. Well-balanced acidity collaborate harmoniously to accentuate the intricate flavors of berry compote, spices, and oak nuances reminiscent of mocha.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
95 Points
Displays a bright ruby hue. The nose reveals red cherries, bright red berries, subtle spring florals, and pie spices. On the palate, cherry cola, black tea, and liquid saline/minerals dominate, backed by vibrant, fresh acidity. It remains clean and elegant, with a young, firm structure and satiny tannin grip that suggests a decade of positive evolution in the cellar. A solid, well-made effort from this world class vineyard.
96 Points
Bold and luxurious with inviting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, notes of cedar and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
95 Points
Aromas of wild berries, black fig and ripe dark fruits are intertwined with hints of fresh mountain herbs, mineral, leather, savory spices, and cigar box. On the palate, the rich fruit flavors of dark cherry, ripe plum, blackberry, red currants and cassis are layered with notes of wild sage, dark chocolate truffle, cinnamon, clove, and a kiss of oak.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
92 Points
Lofty aromas of ripe red fruits layered with notes of crushed violets, berry cobbler, cherry and creme brulee leading into crushed blackberry with cassis, mocha, leather, mineral, and baking spice. Its all encompassing and bold mouthfeel are outstanding, as deep tannins dance around the palate, finishing with flavors of blackberry, fig, and pipe tobacco.
Chewy & Ripe
Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, bacon, blackberry jam, and black tea. Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight. Rich, structured, and complex, with a long evolving finish.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This opulent wine opens with aromas of blackberry, black plum, violets and spice on the nose. Flavors on the palate of dark cherry, sarsaparilla and orange zest wrap around dried tobacco leaf, malt chocolate and toasted vanilla, with a long, supple finish.
