93
Wine Enthusiast
Indulgent blueberries, deep blackberries and subtle, rich oak accents make this wine concentrated, luxurious and mouthcoating. Velvety tannins wrap around the relaxed, almost-sweet fruits and enticing toast, baking spice and mint accents. Best from 2025–2033. — Jim Gordon
92 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com
"A smoking value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is all varietal that saw 18 months in 40% new barrels. It has lots of classic cassis, spice, leather, and some dried flower-like nuances as well as medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate, with velvety tannins. California needs more gems like this one, which will evolve easily for 10-12 years."
91 Antonio Galloni - Vinous
"Dark, vibrant and punchy, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is fabulous. Black cherry, plum, new leather, spice and mocha are beautifully delineated. This Napa Valley Cabernet delivers the goods big time. Vineyard sites are Cardenas, Renteria 360 and Winner. This is flat-out delicious."
91 Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Made under the direction of Keith Emerson (director of winemaking for Vineyard 29), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley blends fruit from Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. It's a charming, fruit-forward effort, revolving around cherries, black cherries, even some raspberries, with mere hints of dried herbs and dusty earth. Nicely balanced and put together, it's medium to full-bodied and softly tannic, with a supple, dusty finish. It's a super value in Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, and with production nearing 1,000 cases, it does see some distribution beyond the direct-to-consumer channel. Last time I was in Napa, it was being poured by the glass at Torc."
"For the first time since 2012, this 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet is 100% Cabernet. We love working with small percentages of blending grapes – petite Verdot for color and tannin, merlot for softness, malbec for juiciness. But in 2021, the cabernet fruit needed no supporting cast. On the nose, black raspberry, bushy summer blackberries, graphite and Luden’s cherry drops immediately showcase what we love about cabernet sauvignon. Great acidity builds the backbone of this wine and encases palate notes of cocoa powder, additional graphite and violets. Gorgeous herb notes of bay leaf, chaparral and dried English lavender add depth and interest to a plush textured mouthfeel. Expect an endlessly silky finish interlaced with delicate violet notes." - Winery
