Drink now or cellar for up to 11 years. Decant for two hours before serving. The iconic Napa Valley winery Duckhorn Vineyards never does anything by halves and this outstanding Cabernet is no exception. Consistently rated over 90 points by the world’s top wine critics, this skillfully-made wine deftly captures both the natural beauty of the varietal and the essence of the terroir which gave it life. Duckhorn source the grapes for this wine from their own prime Napa vineyards and carefully selected partner growers in the valley. After vinification the wine spends 16 months ageing in French oak to add further complexity and to fully harmonise the intense flavours and aromas. In the glass the wine opens gently with ripe red cherry, plum and dark berry aromas which evolve over time to reveal undertones of violets, graphite and dried Mediterranean herbs. Firm tannins and refreshing acidity reveal themselves on the palate along with deep blackcurrant and blackberry flavours and hints of sweet liquorice and vanilla from the oak ageing. Thanks to the inclusion of small amounts of Merlot in the coupage, the wine is very approachable now. If you can resist the urge to open it now, the fine balance and concentrated flavours make this bottle suited for extended cellar ageing up to 2028.
