Cab.Sauvignon

Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon from high altitude vineyards that combine ripe black fruits with a freshness and vivacity on the palate.
Martin Hudson MW, Wine Buyer

Low yields and a lengthy maceration underwrite a generous colour and a classic nose of cassis, bell pepper and soft spice. The palate is fruity, with hints of mint and even eucalypt, and nothing leafy, despite the whistle-clean acidity. Notes reminiscent of white chocolate on the finish are extremely satisfying and distinctive - in a good sense! Drink now to 2020.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer, June 2017

A remarkably full-bodied and fruit expressive Cabernet Sauvignon, with masses of ripe blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, ably supported by spicy French oak notes. The fine, ripe tannins make this a very page-worthy wine.
Martin Hudson MW, Wine Buyer

This is the estate’s premium wine. The nose is pure and elegant with blackberry and blueberry aromas and a hint of smokiness. The wine opens on the palate, becoming full and generous with ripe blackberry, blond tobacco and peppery notes. An elegant tannic backbone carries through to a great finish. Drink now to 2025.
This estate is situated on the beautiful hillsides around Vérac, overlooking Pomerol and Lalande de Pomerol. It has been owned by the Lhuillier family since 1941, who craft boutique wines that are full of personality. Quality and consistency are evident in their terroir-driven winemaking approach which combines tradition and modernism.

It would not be an overstatement to claim that Robert Mondavi has been the single biggest influence in Californian wine in the last 34 years. In 1966 after a row, Robert left the family firm and founded his own winery in Oakville. The company is now run by Robert`s two sons, with Michael as chief executive and Tim as winemaker. It produces a wide range of wines but is probably best known for its benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon and in particular its Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

This deep ruby-red offering shows brick red around the edges, consistent with its twenty-odd years in bottle. The warm, generous nose shows a typical profusion of black fruits, tobacco spice and just a hint of porcini mushroom. The palate follows suit, those cassis and dark cherry flavours complemented by a slight biltong edge. A complex and perfectly balanced Napa Cabernet.

The profound 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve boasts a saturated ruby/purple color. Production (about 20,000 cases) of this sweet, opulently-textured, rich, full-bodied wine should guarantee widespread availability. Aged in 100% new French oak, this blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot offers a textbook varietal nose of cedar wood, licorice, creme de cassis, and pain grille. Full-bodied, with explosive sweetness and fruit on the attack, this gloriously pure, superbly well-delineated wine should be drinkable young, and last for 3 decades. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025. 
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate, Jan 2000

David Ramey’s premier single vineyard Napa Cabernet has masses of concentration but has a foil of fresher acidity from the cool 2011 vintage.  Undoubtedly ageworthy, the ripe cassis fruit makes it delicious now.

In contrast to Bin 707, Bin 169 is the expression of the fruit and terroir from one single region, Coonawarra, perhaps the region more closely associated with Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia than any other. Matured for 14 months in new French oak, contemporary style showing both regionality and maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon in fine grained French oak.

The best vintages of Solaia are 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and now 2013. Marchesi Antinori's 2013 Solaia is a profound and meaningful wine that is based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc in supporting roles. It sports a dark and thick texture with plump fruit and spice, grilled herb and black pepper. The bouquet is intense and layered with the kind of complexity that is best admired as the wine shifts and evolves in the glass. The textual impact is also impressive—you feel the inherent power and the structure, but these elements are never overdone. The best is yet to come; this Solaia is built for long cellar aging.
Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate, 30th Dec 2016

The 2009 Antinori Solaia is similar to the 2007 in its volume and richness, but it is less extroverted. This is another gorgeous Solaia that will drink well pretty much during its entire life. The warm year yielded a racy Solaia with no hard edges and fabulous overall balance.
Antonio Galloni - Dec-2013

Rubicon’s baby brother, proudly bearing the historic Inglenook name for the first time is a worthy introduction to the wines from this great vineyard, with abundant Cabernet Sauvignon blackcurrant fruit and subtle spice from oak treatment.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon “Ashmead” is sourced from 70-year-old vines yielding a microscopic 0.5 tons per acre. The wine was aged for 18 months in 100% new French hogsheads (300 liter barrels). Purple in color, this sensational Cabernet has a splendid nose of pain grille, graphite, leather, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied and voluptuous with hidden tannins, this beautifully balanced wine will develop with 8-10 years in the cellar and drink well through 2035. 
Jay S Miller - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Nov 2015

The 2010 Solaia is even better than the Tignanello. Here, too, it is the wine's energy and sheer vibrancy that stand out most. Blackberry jam, graphite, tar, espresso, violets, crushed rocks and spices all take shape in the glass. The 2010 is a wine I have followed since its infancy, and it has never failed to deliver the goods. Earlier this year I had a chance to taste every vintage of Solaia back to the inaugural 1978. It is still early, but there is little question the 2010 is one of the greatest – if not the single greatest Solaia ever made
97/100 Antonio Galloni - Aug-2013

2010 was an outstanding vintage in Coonawarra, the vines enjoyed early and even ripening with moderate yields delivering an outstanding quality of fruit.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon has pronounced black currant, black cherry and cedar notes with nuances of lightly browned toast, roses, game and rosemary. Medium-bodied, the palate is already a joy to drink, though this wine is showing only a fraction of its potential. Elegantly fruited and tightly wound, it has a firm level of fine-grained tannins and a refreshing acid backbone. It finishes with laudable persistence.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate #205- February 2013

First made in 1982, The John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon was conceived as the flagship wine for the Wynn’s estate. The Cabernet sauvignon grape was seen to be most at one with the Coonawarra Terra Rosa soil. John Riddoch named after the pastoralist and parliamentarian is often seen by many as the definitive Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, produced in small quantities and only when the vintage and fruit is of a high enough standard.

A full bodied wine with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 is renowned as one of Australia's finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines and is Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon version of Grange. Full and rich fruit allied with American Oak, Bin 707 fully expresses Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi- region fruit sourcing. Bin 707 is a multi-regional blend, but the core of the fruit still comes from 150 year old pre-phylloxera vines from the famous Block 42 parcel in the Kalimna vineyards.

A very intense nose, the palate shows power yet poise and a real purity of fruit: concentrated mulberry and cassis. The 100% new American oak is perfectly integrated. Seriously refined this rivals the great wines of Bordeaux at a fraction of the price and will benefit from serious cellaring.

The 2008 vintage of Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is the inaugural re-release of this label - modelled on the earlier ‘one-off’ 1973 Bin 169. The creation of Bin 169 reflects a contemporary Penfolds winemaking approach, emphasising both regionality and maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon in fine-grained French oak.

An honest reflection of the region and a testament to Penfolds longstanding commitment to the vineyards of Coonawarra. Dark magenta, with a deeper/darker core. The nose is regal, yet modern. Lifted high notes—an intriguing mix of root vegetables... rhubarb, turnip, radish, parsnip, white chocolate and clove. Scents of blackberry conserve, fig paste, black olive, oregano, bay leaf, paprika do appear on the aromatic radar. A hint of oak, replete with mustard powder/Indian spice artefact. Fresh wafts of new, sweet polished leather.

The palate is lively, stylish, confidently and assertively medium-bodied, Coonawarra. Rhubarb compote carries over onto the palate, energised by blackcurrant and quince allies and red fruits (cranberry and persimmon). Tomato chutney/relish/pulp... giving way to savoury tapenade, Dutch red licorice. The feature here is texture... structurally woven, a mesh rather than a coating—tightened by oak, bound by powdery Coonawarra Cabernet tannins. Good grip, natural acidity. Deep and long.

"This inaugural release is a contemporary Penfolds reflection and showcase of Cabernet and of Coonawarra.”
(Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago)

The Cabernet Sauvignon reflection of Grange.  A blend of fruit from five vineyard sites, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, and Adelaide Hills. A truly outstanding vintage that takes Bin 707 to a new level, with winemaker Peter Gago describing the wine ‘Gloss and sheen (‘sparkle’), yet with depth and structure’.

A deeply coloured wine, densely packed with fruits, with supple tannins. It is luscious now, but the ideal growing conditions in 1994 have produced a long lasting wine that will continue to improve with age. The blend includes 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

Flirting with perfection, which is almost unheard of in this vintage, is the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder. Along with Betty O-Shaughnessey, Lokoya appears to have produced one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons made from this underrated and diverse terroir. Seamlessly constructed, this opaque purple-colored 2011 offers up aromas of pen ink, acacia flowers, forest floor, blueberries, blackberries and cassis intermixed with hints of espresso, chocolate and subtle earthy notes. Wonderfully ripe and voluptuously textured, this beautiful, full-bodied wine should continue to drink well for another 15-20 years.

Lokoya has long been one of the bright shining stars in the Kendall-Jackson Small Estates portfolio. The fact that all four of their 2011 Cabernets were among the best wines I tasted in this vintage reflects many things, among them, (1) the exceptional commitment to quality, (2) the brilliance of the vineyards and winemaker Christopher Carpenter, (3) these mountain vineyards were less affected by the challenging weather conditions of rain and fog in early and mid-October, and (4) the winemaking team had the patience to wait for perfect ripeness before harvesting these limited production cuvees. The production is even smaller than usual in 2011, ranging from 200 cases for the Diamond Mountain and Spring Mountain, 260 cases for the Howell Mountain and 840 cases for the prodigious Mt. Veeder.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #209 Oct 2013 

2012 was a textbook vintage in Napa. Above average warmth and sunshine, but with no major heat spikes to damage the crop. September and October saw some fine weather allowing the Cabernets to ripen perfectly on the vine with little disease pressure. Classically Californian in style, these are rich, concentrated wines that will reward extended cellaring, all in all, a great vintage.

Inglenook was established in the top-rated Rutherford appellation in Napa Valley in 1879 by a Finnish sea captain, Gustave Niebaum. After a chequered history, which included the winery shutting down during prohibition, the estate regained its original reputation for producing very fine wine during the 1940s when it was owned by John Daniel. Now owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola he has brought on board a smorgasbord of talent in the guise of viticulturist Stephane Derenoncourt and winemaker Philippe Bascaules, from Chateau Margaux.

Comprised of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Shiraz, this is possibly the finest of the ‘Bin’ wines – it certainly sees the largest demand. The great Penfold’s Caberbnet, Bin 707, was not produced in 2011, so a portion of this fine Cabernet fruit finds its way into the blend this year, as does some exceptional Shiraz from de-classified Grange components.

Full bodied, dark fruit, powerful and layered. There are notes of tapenade, mocha and roast meats, with a little oak derived vanilla in the background. Long tannins, balanced acidity – Little not to like here, very impressive. Approachable from 2016 , but this will reward long term cellaring and can be enjoyed through until 2030.
Martyn Rolph -  Private Account Manager

Ridge Vineyards makes wines that compete in terms of quality and desirability with Bordeaux First Growths and Grand Cru white Burgundies. Founder Paul Draper has practised and engendered a practical, hands-off approach to winemaking at Ridge, one that has resulted in an exceptional and highly sought-after range of wines.

This impressive 2013 is a Cabernet Sauvignon blend with less Merlot than usual, after the drought of 2013. This is an extremely concentrated wine, with powerful, seamless aromas of cassis and violet. A big wine, for sure, but drinking nicely from 2019 and onwards.

Deep in colour, this youthful elemental wine shows a miraculous overlapping of aromas and flavours. The regional characters of both Coonawarra and the Barossa Valley are finely poised. The highly perfumed chamomile/violet/mocha aromas,immense concentration, savoury flavours and classically structured palate are in superb balance. This beautifully defined cross-regional/varietal with its meaty nuances and fine-grained tannins will continue to evolve in the cellar for decades.