165 products
Beringer Vineyards KNIGHTS VALLEY Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Always an appealing Cabernet Sauvignon, this deep plum-colored vintage showcases a gorgeous Bordeaux-varietal blend, with sandy, fine-grained tannins, and a plush, velvety-rich mouthfeel. Built to age and develop further complexity over time, the wine is ripe and juicy in its youth with aromas and flavors of vibrant boysenberry, strawberry preserves, and cassis alongside earthier notes of crushed stone, iron, bay laurel, and cedar. Baking spice elements from the well-integrated oak work well with the more traditional Knights Valley tones of wild lavender and bittersweet chocolate. Poised and lively with a structured, juicy, mouthwatering acidity and a finish that’s elegant, long, savory, and pleasing.
Expert Ratings - Vintage 2020
Austin Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel No. 22 Paso Robles 750ml
Producer Description
Paso Robles is the home to many dreamers and self-starters, those who have a spirit and the drive to create their own destiny. Paso Robles entices those individuals to be their best, create the best from the land and all that it produces. This wine is a tribute to those who believe in Paso Robles and all of its greatness, just like our winemakers.
Our third release of AUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon remains focused on our goal to produce a wine true to ‘Paso Robles’. On the nose savory aromas intertwine with rich dark fruit nuances. On the palate, flavors evolve into layers of juicy blackberry, spicy nutmeg, toasted coffee and fresh vanilla bean. This medium to full bodied wine is finished with refined tannins and a distinguishable zing of acid to balance.
Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Rich with dark cherry, plum and baking spices. The delicious fruit is accompanied by black pepper notes, crushed violet and cassis. The palate has medium tannins, lingering spicy oak flavors with a velvety lush finish. Winemaker Description.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 750ML
Winemaker Description
A Columbia Valley Cabernet crafted to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style. This is an inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure with silky tannins.
It’s also very versatile with food. Enjoy it with beef tenderloin or pasta.
Expert Rating - Vintage 2020
Wine Enthusiast | This superb value strikes first with a marine-themed nose of a salty ocean breeze, a driftwood beach fire, blackberries, olive oil and a trace of bacon fat. Smooth and viscous, with dark plum and bittersweet chocolate-covered cherries coating the palate. (2020).
Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
To create this Cabernet Sauvignon, Oberon sourced grapes from throughout Napa's finest winegrowing regions, including Oakville, Oak Knoll, Yountville, Suscol Ridge, Chiles Valley, Pope Valley and Capell Valley.
By layering fruit from Napa's sparse volcanic soils and the deeper alluvial soils of the valley floor, Oberon accomplished their goal of marrying many different expressions into one outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that boasts a beautifully seamless mouthfeel and rich, complex texture and flavors.
Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
A wine with berry aromas and ripe, mouth-filling berry flavours.
Justin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 375ml HALF BOTTLE
Winemaker Description
Bright with a deep ruby core that lightens at the rim of the glass, with moderately thick, slow forming tears. Aromatic with ripe black cherry, red berries and blackcurrant fruit with spice notes of vanilla and cinnamon with fresh sage, subtle dried rose petal, and toasted oak. Nearly full-bodied with red plum, ripe bing cherry, and blackberry on entry with savory dried herbs, baking spice and toasted oak on the midpalate supported with balanced, fine tannins. The complex finish shows sustained ripe fruit and spice mixed with dried flower and camphor elements.
The 2020 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon is remarkably balanced and complex, with a fresh palate that not only invites another sip on its own, but also pairs well with a wide variety of dishes. Try this wine with grilled chicken or burgers at your next cookout or with a classic filet mignon at your favorite steakhouse.
Dunn Vineyards HOWELL MOUNTAIN Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2018 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018
Wine Spectator 96 Points | Ripe and very juicy, with a youthfully compact set of plum, boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in licorice and violet notes. This is both racy and grippy, showing serious power but with the freshness and drive to match. Delivers a long, iron accent that scores the fruit through the finish. Best from 2024 through 2040.Wine Advocate 95 points The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a typically long-term proposition, coated in dusty tannins and cedary oak. It will take time for the cassis, blueberry and slightly pine-scented backbone of this wine to emerge, as for the moment it's almost difficult to taste. Yes, the concentration is present, the tannins are almost silky-ripe, but the structure of this medium to full-bodied wine is unassailable. Hands off for at least five years, and probably more, to judge by how past vintages have evolved.
Vinous 97 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is elegant, deep and classy. Inky dark purplish fruit, savory herbs, menthol, licorice and spice. The purity of the fruit is remarkable today. There is plenty of youthful Howell Mountain tannin, so readers will have to be patient. Bright floral accents lift the red/purplish berry fruit nicely. This is such an expressive, alluring Cabernet.
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 375ml HALF BOTTLE
Winemaker Description
Caymus has a signature style that is dark in color, with rich fruit and ripe tannins – as approachable in youth as in maturity. Since its founding in 1972, Caymus has become renowned as a consistent leader in the production of Napa Valley Cabernet.
Grapes for this wine are farmed in 8 of Napa’s 16 sub-appellations, with diversification enabling us to make the best possible wine in a given year. Their Cabernet offers layered, lush aromas and flavors, including cocoa, cassis and ripe berries.
Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon Organic 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Aromas of ripe black fruit, leather and vanilla are complemented with cassis flavors and hints of spices, with a long velvety finish.
Hussonet Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva Maipo Valley 2019 750ml
Winemaker Description
Hussonet is presented in an intense red color. On the nose, notes of spices such as cinnamon, bay leaf and mint come together with herbal sensations and toasted touches that show the freshness of this valley. In the mouth, it is smooth with pleasant tannins and aromas of red fruits and chocolate.
Expert Reviews
True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2021 750ml
Faust Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 375ml HALF BOTTLE
Winemaker Description
Aromas of Chocolate and black cherry are complemented with layers of savory black cherry tart and notes of tarragon. Faust’s bright acidity is combined with mineral notes and fine grained tannins resulting in a long memorable finish.
Expert Reviews
Inviting aromas of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries as well as crushed walnuts, cedar and bark. Full-bodied, creamy and structured with firm, polished tannins. Balanced and even with a lingering finish. (2021).
Wine Spectator 94 Points | Packed and broad in feel, with a ganache note draped over black currant, blackberry and steeped cherry. Licorice root and alder smoke flavors check in on the finish as the fruit pumps through, ending with a flash of violet. Hard to resist now, but this has some development ahead. (2021).
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points Hefty and grippy, this full-bodied wine is sturdy in tannins, deep in black and blue fruits, and will come around nicely with more aging. Blackberries, blueberries, cocoa and hints of oak char make a good, complex expression on the palate. (2021).
Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is terrific, as well as a terrific value. Cassis, ripe blackberries, tobacco, and some chocolate oak notes all flow to a medium-bodied, supple, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with terrific purity as well as balance. (2021).
Robert Parker's 91 Points | There are an impressive 50,000 cases of Faust's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Featuring upfront notes of Ribena-like cassis fruit accented by hints of cedar and vanilla, it's a full-bodied, generous effort that is softly dusty, plush and easy to drink now, but it has enough tannin to hold for at least another decade. It's a solid value. (2021).
Post & Beam by Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Aromas of cassis, clove, and Christmas spice jump out of the glass while notes of blueberry pie filling and toasted mocha continue on the palate. Structured tannins lead to a long and elegant finish, making this an instant seasonal classic.
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022
Tasting Panel 95 Points | Richly appointed, with dark blue and purple fruit and a plush mouthfeel. Notes of plum liqueur and freshly roasted coffee grace the palate as dark chocolate and anise entwine with the wine's well-defined structure and satin-lined tannins. Spiced red tea and sandalwood engage with more chocolate on the finish.
A fresh, fruit-forward and easily accessible Napa cabernet with notes of plums, red cherries and eucalyptus. The palate is medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and soft tannins giving notes of blackberries, cassia bark and orange zest.
Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Pretty aromas of ripe boysenberry, dark cherry and cassis, coupled with scents of sweet oak and herbal spice, introduce plush, deeply concentrated, black fruit flavors bolstered by bright acidity and well-structured tannins. This classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a long, lovely finish featuring savory fruit, spice and mineral tones.
An excellent companion to beef, rich pork dishes and game.
Groth Cabernet Oakville Sauvignon Reserve 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
Purple-ruby in color, this wine is dark and rich even to the eye. A plethora of aromatics greet you from the glass, beginning with blueberry and black currant, and leading to cinnamon, mocha, lavender and clove. The final aromatics to reveal themselves are cigar box and wet gravel. When tasting the wine, the first impression is the fine tannin and balanced acid, which then leads to boysenberry, blackberry and ripe plum skin. The finish is seamless and smooth — the hallmark of a Groth Reserve Cabernet.
Expert Reviews
96 Points Wine Spectator: This has the vivid, driven cassis, boysenberry and blackberry fruit of the vintage, but it's well-harnessed, with streaks of racy anise, alder and sweet bay leaf providing focus and precision. There's a long echo of iron and savory through the finish as the fruit lingers, leaving a mouthwatering feel. Understated in style compared with its colleagues, but no less complex. Best from 2022 through 2038.
94 Points James Suckling: Aromas of ripe blackberries, blueberries, plums, earth, lavender and bark. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and juicy with a caressing texture and a bright core of spiced fruit. Elegant. Drink from 2023.
Brendel Cabernet Sauvignon Cooper's Reed 2021 750ml
The 2021 Brendel Cooper’s Reed Cabernet Sauvignon is a fresh and vibrant take on Napa Valley’s famed grape varietal. Harvested under moonlight, the fruit is crushed at cool temperatures and then thoughtfully monitored throughout fermentation. After a 7-10 day fermentation, the wine is gently pressed to oak casks where it is allowed to mature for 9 months prior to bottling. Fruit is sourced from prized vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, giving the wine its mouthwatering structure, and elevage in upright oak casks preserves the bright red and black fruit characteristics.
– Brittany Sherwood, Director of Winemaking
Powers Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
Savory notes of fennel and sage are backed by deep aromas of mountain blackberry, black raspberry, and cassis. Woven into this complex profile are notes of wet limestone and gravel. On the palate: black raspberry and black currant, balanced by sage and anise notes. The dark fruit finish is complemented by balanced tannins, minerals and a touch of cedar.
Livingston Cellars Cabernet 1.50L MAGNUM
Winemaker Description
Deep red in color, our Cabernet Sauvignon is well balanced with hints of humidor, cassis, bright red apple and cherry.
Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
This Rutherford-dominated blend of Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by Bordeaux grape varieties offers aromas of blackberry cobbler, plum, and black currants, followed by warm hints of vanilla and caramelized black fruit. A concentrated, silky wine emphasizing varietal expression, richness and balance from start to finish.
Expert Reviews
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This velvety, opulent wine is rich in baked cherry and blackberry aromas, with dark chocolate and crème de cassis flavors. Layers of fruit and oak spices fill the palate, shaped gently by fine-grained tannins. Best from 2026–2034. (2021).
James Suckling 92 Points | Attractive aromas of ripe blackcurrants, dried cherries, walnuts, spiced cedar and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, ripe and dark-fruited with velvety tannin structure and a spicy finish. Better after 2025. (2021).
Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | A smoking value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon has loads of up-front cassis and blackberry fruit to go with a layered, medium to full-bodied, juicy style that's already hard to resist. With some classic chocolate, spice, and leafy herb notes, ripe tannins, and a good finish, it's well worth seeking out. It will evolve for a solid 7-8 years or more. (2021).
Robert Parker 90 Points | While Sequoia Grove's regular Cabernet Sauvignon may rarely win awards, it's been a consistent, reliable performer over the years, and it nearly always represents a good value. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon features hints of maple syrup, then bold black cherries and cassis. It's full-bodied and supple, easygoing but with enough concentration and structure to be more than just a quaffer. You could do a lot worse with a grilled ribeye, whether at home or at your local steakhouse. (2021).
Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac 2014 750ml 95 pts Robert Parker
Expert Reviews
Wine Spectator 95 Points | Deep garnet with a hint of purple to the color, the 2014 Pontet-Canet gives a very serious, classic Pauillac nose of blackcurrant preserves, baked blackberries and warm black plums with suggestions of menthol, pencil lead, woodsmoke, cassia and cast-iron pan plus a hint of baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with black and blue fruit preserves with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness, giving lift to the long, exotic spice-laced finish. It is approachable now, but really should start to make jaws drop in another 4-5 years.Wine Enthusiast 96 points This is a finely structured wine with dark tannins and intense black fruits. The estate, with its biodynamically grown fruit, has given an impressively pure wine, packed with tight serious tannins and a fine structure of black-plum skins and intense acidity. It is direct, firm and with a huge potential over many years. Drink from 2027. Cellar Selection
Decanter 96 Points | Classic Cabernet nose of cassis. Lovely purity and depth with a silky texture that caresses the palate - more obviously Pontet-Canet than Pauillac. An extremely fine wine almost in a class of its own.Jeb Dunnuck 96 points A final blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Pontet-Canet is brilliant stuff, and I was able to taste this wine from barrel as well as multiple times from bottle, both at the estate and from a bottle purchased in the United States. It offers a sensational bouquet of crème de cassis, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, and minerals, as well as an unmistakable Pauillac lead pencil characteristics that I just adore. Possessing full-bodied richness, a rounded, surprisingly opulent, sexy texture, awesome purity, and sweet, succulent tannin, it’s a sensational 2014 that might just surpass what they accomplished in 2015. This is a 2014 you won’t regret buying in bulk as it’s going to keep for 2-3 decades and be drinkable for the vast majority of it. Bravo to Alfred Tesseron and his team!James Suckling 98 points A stunning wine for this vintage although it’s still a bit shy on the nose (more spice than fruit showing than now). There’s wet earth, too, but on the palate it’s bursting with ripe yet subtle flavors. Very long and complex finish that goes on and on.
Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L MAGNUM
Winemaker Description
Dark ruby-red color. Very intense aroma, full of red fruit aromas such as berries, cherries and cassis, that meld perfectly with vanilla and chocolate notes. A fresh sensation with medium.
Milbrandt Family Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 750ml
Notes
Aromas of black fruit. Opens with notes of black cherry and boysenberry. The mid palate is layered with notes of black tea, herb and spice. Balanced and concentrated wine with a smooth and lasting finish.
Critic Notes
James Suckling | A fruit-forward, berry-soaked character with dried flowers, cedar and spices. Medium- to full-bodied, bright and succulent with supple tannins. Firm and velvety finish. (2020).
Nickel & Nickel "State Ranch" Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Napa Valley 2021 750ml
James Suckling | Bright aromas of black currants and lavender with intense pencil shavings and green tobacco leaves followed by roasted coffee beans and cedar. A full-bodied wine that is broad on the mid-palate with firm yet fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Great depth and length here. Wonderful tension and density as well as harmony.
Wine Enthusiast | Oozing blueberry richness and chocolaty spices, this full-bodied but relatively soft and plush wine eases onto the palate, soothing the senses and revealing dried cherries, blueberry syrup and cocoa powder on its mouthfilling texture. Deep within are oak char, graphite and espresso flavors that need time to meld with the intense fruits.
From the outset, this is one powerful, deeply expressive Cabernet with heady black currant, plum, and cedar aromas leading into a big, juicy entry. Layered currant and black cherry flavors are accented by elegant clove notes. Bold, coating tannins support and frame the entire wine, and hints of wet slate add dimension to a dark, brooding finish. Winemaker Description.
Bosman Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Western Cape 2016 Organic 750ml
Barkan Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon Kosher 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Mevushal. Israel. Full bodied red wine. Deep ruby red in color, on the nose, aromas of plum and blackberry with notes of spices. Medium tannins. Low acidity. Rich and intense red wine in style.
On the palate, dry, oaky, deep, intense, fruit-driven, fleshy, jammy, hint of dark chocolate, touch of leather, delivers dark red fruit character, filled with ripe, rich, structured, velvety, firm, buttery, spicy, soft, lengthy. It has long finish.
Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains 2019 750ml
Cakebread Cellars BENCHLAND SELECT Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018 750ml
Expert Ratings
Wine Advocate 93 Points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select gives up intense cassis, stewed plums and cedar chest notes with hints of licorice and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, the palate has a taut, grainy texture supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and mineral tinged.
James Suckling 92 Points | Ripe blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, spearmint, cocoa and walnut on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Supple, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.
Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Lot C-91 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
2018 is a spectacular vintage that started off beautifully with abundant spring rains. The generous summer sun and cooler marine influences from San Pablo Bay created the ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. Lot C-91 continues to embody the legacy of Heitz Cellar and the vision for this wine that began in 1969. The fruit comes only from their prized single vineyards and is blended after each parcel has had the opportunity to show its true potential, allowing their winemaker, Brittany Sherwood to select only the most expressive barrels to make the final Cuvee. Always made in the classical style that Joe Heitz pioneered in the early 1960s.
Expert Reviews
Wine Spectator 93 Points | Expressive, with a bold menthol note followed quickly by boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in black licorice. The long finish has a tug of earth amid a generally velvety feel, while the menthol note curls around the fruit. Distinctive. (2018).
Wine Spectator 93 Points | Expressive, with a bold menthol note followed quickly by boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in black licorice. The long finish has a tug of earth amid a generally velvety feel, while the menthol note curls around the fruit. Distinctive. (2018).
Robert Parker 92 Points | There's a gentle herbaceousness to the cherry fruit in Heitz's 2018 Lot C-91, making it a bit more like redcurrant than true cherry. A blend of fruit from Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Howell Mountain, it's medium-bodied but more expansive and generous than the regular bottling, with a nice touch of velvet layered in on the mid-palate and a long, fruit-driven finish.
La Playa Cabernert Sauvignon 2023 MAGNUM 1.5 Liter
Winemaker Description
Ruby black color. Spicy, fruity aromas and flavors of spiced blueberries and currants and chocolate craisin with a silky, vibrant, fruity medium body and a polished, appealing, medium-length vanilla custard, nougat, mint, and menthol tobacco finish with silky, fine tannins and light oak
Silver Oak NAPA VALLEY Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 750ml
Winemaker Notes
Expressive and lively on the nose, the 2019 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a black cherry and huckleberry aroma laced with dry floral notes. Integrated oak adds a light note of sweet nutmeg to this wine. Ruby in color, it has a fruit-forward entry with silky tannins that builds across the mid-palate and through a long and balanced finish. Structured while still approachable, this wine remains true to the signature Silver Oak winemaking style and will continue to improve through 2047 given proper cellaring conditions.
Blend: 76.61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.13% Merlot, 2.56% Cabernet Franc, 2.32% Petit Verdot, 0.38% Malbec
Critics Notes
Decanter 96 Points | A beautifully compact wine that delivers complex and nuanced aromas of Bing cherry and black raspberry with tobacco, currant leaf, and cedarwood laced with dried sage. Cool raspberry, cherry, and blackberry fruit are perfectly represented, and the lengthy finish is crisp, lively, and energetic. (2019).
Jonathan Cristaldi writes: The 2019 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet shows a deep, ruby colour. It is a beautifully compact wine that delivers complex and nuanced aromas of Bing cherry and black raspberry with tobacco, currant leaf, and cedarwood laced with dried sage. Focused and linear on the medium to full-bodied palate, showing expressive dark berry character and exotic oak spices with a firm backbone of fine-grained structured tannins. Cool raspberry, cherry, and blackberry fruit are perfectly represented, and the lengthy finish is crisp, lively, and energetic. No doubt, this is one to cellar. Exhaustive oak seasoning experiments led by winemaker Nate Weis resulted in the discovery that the American oak they age Silver Oak in when seasoned for 24 months and toasted for 90 minutes, marks the point at which the oak imparts more vanillin character and delivers better tannin integration. By contrast, the 2018 vintage was aged in American oak, seasoned for 16 months and toasted for 60 minutes. Weis explains that their experiments showed that underseasoned American oak imparts a dill character, while overseasoning results in coconutty notes, but finding a sweet spot delivers that vanillian quality winemakers look for in French oak. Taste the 2018 and 2019s side by side if you can, and note the subtle differences and shift to a more savoury profile in the 2019 vintage, with a very precise integration of oak tannin. It will be exciting to follow their progression in the cellar and see how subsequent vintages shape up in healthy and challenging harvest years. Drinking 2024 to 2038. - Decanter 96
James Suckling writes: So elegant, supple and silky, this vintage is a dream to drink now, but should also have plenty of life ahead of it. Aromas of blueberries and dark chocolate meld with luxe black fruit, mint and cocoa on the palate. A blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and dashes of cabernet franc and petit verdot. Drink or hold through at least 2030. - James Suckling 95
Gloria Violet Cabernet Sauvignon California 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
We embraced the structure up front when making this wine because we wanted a strong phenolic profile to bind with and stabilize the tannin. Baking spices (clove and cinnamon) with a kiss of oak.
Ripe black fruit on the palate, black currant and blackberry. A hint of vanilla and smooth tannins on the plush finish.
Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
The result of a nearly perfect, long and cool ripening season (and oblivious to the Covid chaos swirling around it), the 2020 was picked and in the barn fully two and a half weeks before the Glass Fire broke out. Industrial-grade air filters kept smoke out of the winery as the wines went down to barrels. We are so grateful, and relieved, to present the lovely 2020.
This wine is wildly complex with tart cherry, blueberry, red and black currants, raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit, fleshed out with notes of baking spices and peppermint. The tannins are characteristically polite yet grippy. Mineral notes add lift and the evolving violet perfume is so pretty. - Cathy Corison.
Expert Ratings
Decanter 96 Points | Medium to full-bodied beautiful and restrained with savoury aromatics of fennel black liquorice cedar and black currants. Soft satiny blackberry fruits are lifted by fine-grained yet supple tannins while a purity of fruit guides the palate to a long tobacco-tinged finish marked by a mineral-freshness that beckons sip after sip. 100% Cabernet aged 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels. (Drink between 2023-2035. (2020).
Wine Spectatpr 93 Points | Distinctive, with a vivid display of mulberry, pomegranate and plum fruit aromas and flavors that glide through easily, carried by a silky but persistent structure. Reveals nice floral nuances through the finish, with a late twinge of iron, too. (2020).
James Suckling 92 Points | Quite fruit-expressive and floral with spiced dark cherries rust baked plums hibiscus and violet extract on the nose. Rich and fruity with tart cherries cassis and dried herbs on the palate. Full-bodied and juicy with silky tannins that smoothen it out. Drink or hold.
"Corison fans should enjoy the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon. Gentle herbal streaks run through the wine's classic black cherries and cassis fruit. Medium-bodied sleek and streamlined it shows vibrant energy and ample length framed by gentle silky tannins."
The Wine Advocate - 91 points
"The base 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is pretty with a medium-bodied elegant style as well as lots of sappy herbs flowers and currant-driven aromatics fine tannins and nicely integrated acidity. Drink this balanced satisfying old school Cabernet over the coming 10-12 years or so. This Cuv e spent 18 months in 50% new oak."
Jeb Dunnuck - 91 points
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 1.5 Lit MAGNUM
Winemaker Description
There is so much perfume in this wine: fresh flowers and lavender are bolstered by ripe plum, sandalwood and cherry compote. There’s also an incredibly appealing note of Earl Grey or bergamot that lifts the entire aromatic profile. Lingering behind the fruit is where the action starts as black pepper, vanilla, crushed rock and soy are revealed.
Farming requires optimism. That’s especially true in viticulture, given the timeline to transition bare ground into a finished wine.
At a minimum, it takes three years from gently hand-planting each individual vine to the first harvest. However, that initial crop is quite small and it will be another two to three years before the vines really hit their stride. After harvest, fruit destined for the Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon will spend an additional two years in barrel before bottle aging in our cellar prior to release. At best, it’s six solid years of farming, winemaking and cellaring before we can pull that first cork. That type of commitment requires a fundamental belief in ourselves, our work and our mission.
We have to believe that going the extra mile, pushing a little harder and accounting for every small detail is not only worth it, but will be appreciated years from now. Moreover, we have to be curious, creative and daring for the future of each wine and the land we steward. In short, we have to believe that the future will be better and we cherish our small contribution.