Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Mount Eden Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Domaine Eden
Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Showing rich vanilla cream with menthol, chocolate, cedar, sage and crushed lavender flower aromas that are well balanced by the cassis, raspberry, black cherry and light plum notes.
On the palate this wine shines with a full, lush and creamy textured mouthfeel. Rich flavors of cassis, raspberry and Kirsch layered with vanilla, lavender, chocolate, cedar, herbs and lingering on menthol. Ripe, plush tannins are fine grained and balanced with acidity.
Aged 2 years in French Oak.
2011 Morandé, Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva
Maipo Valley, Chile
Ripe aromas show cassis, cherry and plum with vanilla, cocoa and a touch of eucalyptus and black pepper.
On the palate a ripe modern style with very little to no green pepper and pyrazine notes. Smooth ripe tannins and creamy texture are appealing. Flavors of cherry, black currant, plum, blackberry and cassis with vanilla, cocoa, black pepper, sage and eucalyptus. Dense across the mid-palate. Moderate on the plush finish.
$18 – 90 Points
2013 Woodward Canyon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Artist Series
Washington
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% French oak and a blend of some of Washingtons best vineyards; Champoux Vineyard, Sagemoor Vineyard, Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard, Charbonneau, Discovery, Spring Creek and Summit View.
Deeply and intensely colored. The nose shows intensity as well. Scents of dark cherry, cassis, and wild berry mix with notes of graphite pencil shavings, cigar box, flowers, black tea, mineral, toast, vanilla, graham cracker and hints of cocoa and herb. Youthful and well chiseled on the structured palate with firm, ripe tannins, above moderate acidity, mid-palate density and alcohol. Everything is in its place even at the early stage of this wine that should have no problem going 10-20 years. Rich dark cherry and cassis meld with floral notes, graphite, cigar, herb, mineral, black tea, toast, vanilla, cedar and graham. Lingers with strength and finesse.
2010 Boudreaux Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon
Washington
A blend of 10 of Washington's most regarded vineyards. 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc. Hand picked. Basket pressed and three years aging including the final year blended in a 2000 gallon French Oak tank. Bottled in-house, waxed and labeled by hand.
Dark, inky and saturated red with purple hues in the glass.
Bold aromas push from the glass with heavy scents of deep blackberry, dark cherry, currant, wild berry and bramble that mix with notes of fresh herbs, green pepper, black peppercorns, dark chocolate and cedar with lighter notes of graphite, dark roast coffee bean and gravel.
Full-bodied and intense on the palate with a bold entry. Full throttle tannins and juicy acidity provide structure. Big flavors of Marionberry, dark cherry, cassis, and plum weave in flavors of herbs, tobacco, dark chocolate, peppers, cracked black peppercorn, graphite pencil, bramble, gravel and dust. The finish is long and focused.
2014 Goldschmidt Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hilary Goldschmidt Charmin Creek
Oakville, California
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in French oak, 25% new. Single Vineyard, 4,100 case Production.
Scents of moderate-plus intensity show notes of dark cherry, black currant, plum and a touch of fig that weave into aromas of woodsy herbs, tobacco, chocolate, coffee, earth, worn leather, spice and dried florals.
The full-bodied palate shows luscious textures with fine tannins and juicy acidity. Flavors show dark fruits of fig, black plum, black currant and dark cherry that settle in with the flavors of herbs, tobacco, dried florals, cocoa powder, Kona coffee, earth, leather, vanilla and toast.
2013 Hundred Acre, Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Vineyard
Napa Valley, California
Dense, rich, opulent and flat out stunning! Super-fine tannins, balanced acidity, velvety texture and even at 15.5% the alcohol is well integrated.
This wine is extremely long on the palate delivering flavors of blackberry compote, fig, blueberries, cassis and plum with notes of sweet tobacco, herbs, suede, mocha, toast and vanilla bean. The plush finish is long and decadent.
Though this drinks amazingly well now, this wine will cellar well.
2013 Anthem, Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer Las Piedras
St. Helena, California
From one of the most renown and upper echelon vineyards of the Napa Valley. The Anthem wines are made under the guidance of the excellent winemaker Jeff Ames, who also makes the wines at Rudius and Tor.
The wine is aged in French oak, 60% new, for two years and bottle aged for another 20 moths before release. Only 375 cases of this were produced.
This Powerhouse Cabernet is plush with scents of dark cherry, plum and crème de cassis with baking spice, herbs, vanilla bean, cigar box, earth and chocolate tendencies. The palate struts plush textures with balanced tannins and acids. Flavors follow the nose with spice and mocha laced cassis, plum, and dark cherry with vanilla crème, herbs, earth and oak. Long through the grippy finish. A wine that will drink well now, but cellar exceptionally well.
2015 Snowden, Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch
Napa Valley, California
Snowden Ranch is at the confluence of the appelations of Howell Mountain, Rutherford and St. Helena and display a touch of mountain fruit, Rutherford dust and St. Helena richness.
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.
Sophisticated on the nose showing suave aromas of black plum, cassis, ripe blackberry and blueberry meld with notes of mountain sage, marjoram, dried violet, cedar, pencil shavings, espresso beans and earth.
The palate shows great structure with opulence. Full fine tannins compliments the backbone of acidity and alcohol. The density and mid-palate texture is where wine shine. Plush velvety textures envelop the palate. Flavors show through with the plum, cassis, blackberry, and a touch of blueberry detected on the nose as well as the notes of sage, herbs, violets, espresso, cedar and earth.
2016 Martin Ray, Cabernet Sauvignon, Synthesis
Napa Valley, California
Synthesis is blended to showcase the nuances of the Napa Valley floor and counterbalanced by the structure and tertiary notes of the mountains. Hand-picked barrel lots of the favorite vineyards that were fermented in small 5 ton open-top and aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months.
Heavily scented showing strong oak notes upfront with scents of cedar, pencil shavings, baking spice, vanilla, toffee and caramel that lace the scents of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, mocha and earth.
The palate shows structured, firm and fine tannins that play against the berry acidity. The flavors of vanilla soaked blackberries, cassis and cherry along with caramel, baking spices, mocha, oak and earth ride along the supple and smooth textures that flow through the lengthy finish highlighting the essence of Napa Cabernet.
2017 Penfold’s, Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407,
South Australia
100% Cabernet Sauvignon that is a multi-regional blend from South Australia sourced from Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully and Padthaway. 12 months in French oak (25% new) and American oak hogshead (9% new).
The nose shows rich aromas cassis, Luxardo cherry, blackberry preserve and plum pastilles that weave in and out of the scents of mint, licorice, toasted star anise, chocolate truffles, suede, candied violets, vanilla bean, shaved coconut, toasted oak, spice and earth.
The palate shows incredible concentration and density while retaining freshness. Fine, sweet tannins and juicy acidity. Flavors of spearmint laced cassis, blackberry compote, Luxardo cherry, Danish pastry, vanilla, sweet anise, black licorice, violet, coconut, rubbed herbs and toasty oak are all in balance and penetrating. The finish is plush and long. This wine has a long life in front of it.
2015 Rombauer Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Selection
Napa Valley, California
Small barrel lot selection. Optically sorted and barrel fermented before being racked 100% New French oak barrels for 17 months.
On the nose scents of blackberry, black cherry, plum and cassis are woven with notes of black licorice, herbs, spice, toffee, vanilla, cedar and hints of pastry and floral pastilles. On the palate super-fine tannins, structured acidity and alcohol. Obviously very young and a little tight at this stage, but should age beautifully. Flavors of cassis, dark cherry, plum and blackberry fruits come laced with licorice, spice, vanilla, toffee, floral pastilles and oak. The finish lingers showcasing the purity of the fruit and the fine tannins.
2015 Inglenook, Cabernet Sauvignon
A deep and saturated ruby color that is glass-staining.
Aromas show rich cassis notes with blackberry, dark cherry, black forest cake, cedar, cigar box, tobacco, herbs, spice notes and dusty earth with hints of a floral touch. The palate is dense and powerful. Fully ripe and cocoa tinted tannins are high and the acid structure is above moderate. The wine has weight and density with a touch of heat from the ABV. Broad on the palate with pure flavors of cassis, kirsch pomegranate molasses and blackberry with chocolate, vanilla, spice, herbs, pipe tobacco, graphite, floral pastilles, earth and cedar. Long through the finish.Still so Young but the should age marvelously!
2017 Spottswoode, Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Lyndenhurst’
St. Helena, California
84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. The Lyndenhurst is a blend of roughly equal parts declassified Spottswoode barrels and purchased fruit.
The lengthy decant and air time given brings forth notes new leather, rubbed herbs, chocolate truffle and deep notes of dark cherry, cassis, plum and fig meld with hints of vanilla bean, tobacco, dried florals, earth and sugar cookie.
The palate shows density with firm suave tannins, moderate acidity and structured above moderate acidity. Flavor show rich plum, fig, cassis and dark cherry with herbs, tobacco, leather, mocha, herbs, earth and touches of vanilla, dried florals and black tea.
2017 Snowden, Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers Vineyard
Aromas show the old school Napa style and also a style that is reminiscent of a Left Bank Bordeaux. Scents of rubbed herbs, pencil shavings, earth, gravel, cigar box and cocoa alongside notes of pepper, violets, cassis, dark cherry and fresh black plum.
The medium-plus body shows great concentration without being over extracted. Well-structured with firm and velvety tannins alongside juicy acidity and moderate alcohol. Savory and suave with notes of No. 2 pencil, rubbed herbs, pepper spice, leather, tobacco, dusty earth, cocoa, dark cherry, cassis, plum and hints of violets and toast. The finish is long and expansive.