What an easy-drinking 2021 Cabernet from this legendary Napa producer. It's a beautifully classic wine with intensely aromatic, flavour-packed fruit redolent of blueberry, black cherry, and black raspberry, tinged with smoky cedarwood. The full-bodied palate is marked by persistent tannins and a satisfying finish revealing notes of earth, river stones, dried herbs, and a firm spine of acidity—a wine to enjoy throughout a great meal. Nearly half the fruit is sourced from Oakville, with additional grapes from Stags Leap District, Oak Knoll, Yountville, and Rutherford. A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec, aged 18 months in French oak barrels.
95 points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter (Sep 2024)
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is straight-up fabulous, with pure cassis and darker blue-tinged fruit as well as notes of graphite, tobacco leaf, and spicy wood. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, gorgeously layered, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with fine tannins and just a kiss of background oak. There are roughly 11,000 cases, so it shouldn't be too hard to find in the market, and it's going to drink well for at least 10-15 years.
94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Dec 2023)
Intense blackberries and black cherries on the nose lead to vivid focused cherries, blueberries and minty, spicy accents on the palate. Firm in tannins and fresh with good acidity, this outstanding wine is well-balanced. Enjoyable now but best from 2027.
94 points, James Suckling (Mar 2024)
An extroverted style, with a burst of mint and boysenberry notes leading off, followed by steeped plum and black currant preserve flavors. There's a nice graphite note running underneath the fruit before this ends with a licorice accent that rounds off the finish. Drink now through 2038. 900 cases made.
93 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Nov 2024)