Tasting Notes

WSM95

The top cabernets from 2013 continue to develop well—this relatively late release from Duckhorn has benefited from its time in bottle, feeling vibrant, with a dynamic interplay of tart cherry flavors and brisk, refreshing tannins. Renee Ary, who was promoted to lead winemaker at Duckhorn in 2014, blended this wine from estate-grown cabernet and purchased fruit; 45 percent of the lot aged in new French oak barrels, adding to the savory black-olive richness of the tannins, while the purple fruit drives past any direct impression of oak. Instead, there’s a sense of cherry bark, a fruitwood aroma, or a woodland mushroom fruitiness. That integration allows the wine to present its energy unfettered, revealing a mouthwatering Napa Valley cabernet that’s ready to decant and set to develop further in the cellar.

JS92

Aromas of brambleberries, flowers and wet earth follow through to a medium body, a solid core of fruit and a fresh finish. Dusty tannin texture. Solid. Drink in 2018.

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