2015 Vintner Select Cabernet Sauvignon

Our 2015 Vintner Select Cabernet Sauvignon expresses the balance, concentration, and purity of varietal character that have emerged as the signature of the great 2015 reds. Flavors of blackberry, plum, cocoa powder and rose petal are expressed in the nose, while on the palate, the wine is ripe, round and lush. The ripe tannins seamlessly integrate into the persistent finish, which is a desired signature of our Vintner Select Cabernet each year.

This wine is produced from a single vineyard block at the western-most edge of our Spring Mountain estate, above the Napa Valley’s morning fog, where it is bathed in warm sunlight throughout the growing season. The block, named “Carolyn’s” after Carolyn Pride, is planted to 70% clone 337 and 30% clone 15 cabernet sauvignon. With an ultra-light crop in 2015 and excellent ripening conditions throughout the growing season, the grapes were night-harvested on September 30th, gently destemmed and transferred to a stainless-steel fermentation vat. After twenty days on the skins, the wine was drained and transferred to French oak barrels, 50% new, where it was barrel-aged for twenty months.

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Appellation: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2015
Harvest: September 2015
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Cooperage: French Oak
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 14.6%
Bottling: July 2017
Production: 648 cases
Release Date: January 2018
Release Price: $95.00

Reviews

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  • The Wine Advocate: Issue 233, October 31st, 2017 - Rating: 95

    Very deep purple-black in color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Select reveals a nose of crème de cassis, baked plums and blueberry pie with touches of cedar chest, dark chocolate, charcuterie and Chinese five spice. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with youthful black and blue fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and spicy. 603 cases were made.

  • Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: August 2017 - Rating: 90

    Somewhat closed-in to start with toasty, slightly creamy oak in the lead, the nose does open with airing and fruit finds its place as co-equal partner. Fairly precise varietal notes of currants and black cherry also slowly make themselves known on the palate where the wine's youthfully gruff exterior occludes a burgeoning sense of suppleness that seems sure to grow in prominence with the five to seven years of cellaring that are demanded here. And do not be surprised if the wine lasts a lot longer-quite possibly reaching far into its second decade.

    Reviewed: August 2017

  • California Grapevine: December 2017 - Rating: 93

    Medium-dark ruby; attractive, fragrant, black cherry, blackberry, and cassis aroma with hints of espresso, green olive, sandalwood, and dried herbs; full body; deep, intense, cedary, black fruit flavors that finish a bit tight; full tannin and slightly mouth drying on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended, though while showing rich Cabernet fruit with very good varietal character, our tasting panel members had mixed opinions on the tannin level with some of our tasters thinking it was too high. 14.6% alcohol; 603 cases; 100% CS; released January 2017. (Group Score: 16.4, 1/0/1; My Score: 17.5 [93/100], first place)

  • Jeb Dunnuck: December 2017 - Rating: 95+

    The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintners Select Cuvee is a step up over the straight Cabernet Sauvignon and has more mid-palate depth as well as length. Blackcurrants, black raspberries, graphite, toasted spice and violet notes all emerge from this full-bodied, beautifully concentrated Cabernet. With ripe, yet firm tannin, notable purity and freshness, and a great finish, it’s high-class stuff that will keep for 15-20 years or more.