7 Top-Rated Cabernet Sauvignons from Issue 234
-
Abbe Baker
- 16 Jan 2018 | News & Views
Eight wines in the latest Wine Advocate Issue received 100 points—one of which was a Cabernet Sauvignon.
READ RELATED: 8 100-Point Wines from Issue 234
In fact, seven Cab Sauvs in the Issue received 98-100 points, all from the Napa Valley.
“After living here in Napa for over two years now, I’ve come to realize that Napa winemakers are not significantly luckier than those from other regions” says editor-in-chief Lisa Perrotti-Brown in the first installment of her report. “But many are very, very good at making their own luck.”
And 2016 proved to be a fantastic year for the region: “I continue to be more and more impressed by the consistency of the 2016 vintage. It was without doubt a remarkable year in Napa Valley for Bordeaux red varieties, producing bright, expressive, black fruit characteristics and wonderfully ripe tannins, which come across as soft and approachable even from the barrel.”
Without further ado, the 7 top-rated Cabernet Sauvignons from Wine Advocate Issue 234:
“Full-bodied with very firm, very ripe tannins and an incredible core of black fruit, earth and spice layers, it has wonderful freshness and depth, finishing long and multilayered.”
“Deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard features cassis, ripe plums and mulberries with hints of black forest cake, peach blossoms and bay leaves plus a touch of black pepper.”
Wow!
“Full-bodied, concentrated and packed with black fruit and spicy layers, it has a velvety texture and plenty of freshness, finishing very long and very impressive.”
“Very deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard (a barrel sample) charges out of the gate with exuberant black cherry, mulberry and crème de cassis notes accented by earthy hints of dusty soil, fallen leaves and truffles, plus wafts of lavender and licorice.”
“Full-bodied, firm, taut and laden with earth and fresh black fruit layers, it is built like a brick house and, if the bottled wine lives up to this barrel blend, should give a lot of pleasure over the next 40+ years!”
“Big, full, rich and concentrated, the palate has great expression and purity, with a wonderfully velvety texture and a finish that just goes on and on.”