Press Room

St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon Reviews

Score: 93 | January 31, 2024 | Wine Advocate

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection St. Helena has turned out exceptionally well, with slightly floral nuances atop ripe cherries; there's a lovely fruit expression. Full-bodied and lush, this is more texturally generous than the other District Collection bottlings, finishing long and velvety.

Score: 91 | December 27, 2023 | James Suckling

Notes of cassis, cherries, bark and cigar box. It’s medium-bodied with creamy tannins. Spiced and vivid at the center with a rich core of creamy cherries and chocolate in the finish. Drink or hold.

Score: 92 | September 21, 2022 | James Suckling

Lovely aromas of dark fruit and berries, roses, black cherries, moss and crushed sage. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Nicely transparent, with currant and blackberry character. Sturdy and steady. Drink or hold.

Score: 92 | September 21, 2022 | James Suckling

Lovely aromas of dark fruit and berries, roses, black cherries, moss and crushed sage. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Nicely transparent, with currant and blackberry character. Sturdy and steady. Drink or hold.

Score: 96 | March 10, 2022 | Jeb Dunnuck

I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection St. Helena, and this is such a sweet spot for world class Cabernet in the valley. Beautiful cassis and currant fruits, textbook tobacco, spice, and lead pencil aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness, and ultra-fine tannins all define this beauty, and while it’s already hard to resist, I see no reason it shouldn’t evolve for two decades. The balance, as well as the tannins, are spot on.

Score: 94 | January 1, 2022 | Vinous

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena is once again one of the best wines in this range. All of the natural radiance of this southern sector of St. Helena comes through. Layers of inky red/purplish red berry fruit, spice, mint and wild flowers build effortlessly in the glass. Attractive floral notes reappear on the finish to round things off.

-- Antonio Galloni

Score: 93 | June 30, 2021 | Wine Spectator

Ripe and juicy, with a nicely packed core of red and black currant paste flavors backed by warm earth, singed alder and sweet tobacco notes. Has some heft, but there's definition from start to finish, with a subtle mineral hint at the very end. Best from 2022 through 2032. 275 cases made. — JM

Score: 90 | April 1, 2021 | Wine Enthusiast

Thick, concentrated waves of dark brooding fruit rise from this warm-climate wine, the tannins sweet and lengthy. Toasted oak adds additional texture and a lasting note of vanilla. -Virginie Boone

Score: 93+ | February 26, 2021 | Wine Advocate

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena District Collection has a deep garnet-purple color and needs a little coaxing to unlock fresh-fruit scents of crushed blackberries, black raspberries and boysenberries with underlying cassis, violets and fragrant earth notes. The full-bodied palate has a solid structure of firm, fine-grained tannins and a lively line, supporting the densely packed, crunchy black berry layers, finishing long and with bags of energy. 273 cases were made. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Score: 94+ | January 27, 2021 | JebDunnuck.com

Coming from the southwest side of St. Helena, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection St Helena (100% Cabernet aged in 59% new French oak) is another classic, great 2018 that reveals a deep purple color as well as lots of cassis and darker currant fruits, full-bodied richness, building yet polished tannins, and complex notes of dried earth, tobacco, and roasted coffee. As with many 2018s, the purity of fruit is top-notch. This will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve for 20 years or so.

Score: 92 | January 22, 2021 | Wine Spectator

Ripe and focused, with cassis, plum sauce and melted red licorice notes layered seamlessly, ending with an uptick in toast, savory and warm earth notes through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2030. 228 cases made. — JM

Score: 94 | January 1, 2021 | Vinous/Antonio Galloni

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena is one of the most complete wines in this range. Bold and exuberant, the St. Helena Cabernet is impeccable. Bright floral notes and sweet red berry fruit give this juicy, mid-weight Cabernet tons of appeal. This silky, racy Cabernet has so much going on. It's also a terrific example of the appellation.

-- Antonio Galloni

Score: 93+ | October 29, 2018 | Wine Advocate

The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena District Collection (aged 20 months in 70% new French oak) opens with baked cherries, warm plums and crème de cassis with hints of dusty soil, iron ore, mossy bark and tobacco. Big, concentrated and full, the palate is packed with rich fruit and framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and earthy. 477 cases produced.

Score: 93 | October 31, 2018 | Wine Spectator

Clean, pure and aromatically complex, with tiers of dark berry, cherry, plum and spice flavors. Seamless for its age, yet finishes with dusty, fine-grained tannins. Best from 2020 through 2030. 

Score: 92 | March 27, 2018 | Vinous/Antonio Galloni

Raymond's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena emerges from a vineyard on the southern edge of town, where the wines tend to be radiant and flashy. That is exactly what comes through here. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice and new leather all flesh out in this voluptuous, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. This is one of the better wines in the range. Silky tannins add to the wine's considerable appeal. The 2015 finished with enough substance to suggest it will drink well for many years to come.

Score: 92 | December 29, 2017 | JebDunnuck.com

A wine I was able to taste twice, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection St. Helena saw an extended maceration and roughly 20 months in 70% new French oak. It offers classic Cabernet red and black fruits, cedar wood, graphite, and tobacco, and is medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and has plenty of structure. It’s approachable today but should be better in 2-3 years and keep for 10-15.

Score: 91 | December 21, 2017 | JamesSuckling.com

Plum fruit, sweet spices, eucalyptus, vanilla and blueberry cake show on the nose. Full-bodied with grainy tannins, a fine line of acidity and a chewy finish. Drink in 2019.

Score: 93 | December 1, 2017 | Wine & Spirits

This wine is notable for its freshness of fruit, its black currant flavors awash in tannins, bringing spicy tobacco notes and stony coolness to the vibrant fruit. It’s approachable and juicy, a wine to pour with grilled lamb. 

Score: 95 | November 1, 2017 | Wine Advocate

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena District Collection opens with a deep garnet-purple color and a savory/meaty nose of smoked bacon, earth, crème de cassis and incense with suggestions of cinnamon stick, cloves and dried flowers. The full-bodied mouth is velvety and well balanced with plenty of expressive, subtle flavor layers and a long, earthy finish.

Score: 90 | October 16, 2017 | Wine Enthusiast

From the warm appellation, this wine offers moderate structure and undeniable ripeness—a deep, brooding expression of dark chocolate, plum and leather. 

Score: Double Gold | January 19, 2017 | American Fine Wine Competition
Score: 95 | October 26, 2016 | The Wine Advocate

Another impressive 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this grouping is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection St. Helena, which was aged 19 months in 50% new French casks and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Where the Oakville is a tiny cuvée of only 186 cases, this one represents 467. Terrific blackcurrant and black cherry fruit soar from the glass with loamy soil undertones. The wine has more flesh, fat and succulence, a full-bodied mouthfeel and an easygoing and sexy texture and finish. It is a classic 2014 and best drunk over the next 15+ years.

Score: 92 | May 31, 2016 | Wine Spectator

Lots of smoke, charcoal, blackberry and licorice notes saturate the palate, with a broad, expansive mix of dense, extracted flavors, firm, fine-grained tannins and a long, full finish that keeps this lively and alluring. —J.L.

Score: 91 | December 17, 2015 | Wine Enthusiast

Sweetened tannins highlight a depth of chocolate and blackberry in this 100% varietal wine made in small amounts. Soft and juicy, it crafts a balance of richness and density around elegant spicy clove and cinnamon. —V.B.

Score: 91-93 | October 31, 2014 | The Wine Advocate

Made entirely from Clone 4, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena District Collection displays more profound depth than the 2012 along with sweet blackberry and blueberry fruit, licorice, graphite and spicy oak notes. Consume this opulent, full-bodied, impressive 2013 over the next 10-15 years

Score: 89 | July 1, 2014 | Wine Enthusiast
The alcohol is hefty but balanced, giving the wine a heat it wears well. The tannins are big and thick, while the fruit is all about ripe black cherries and chocolate. It hits the sweet spot, but finishes dry.
Score: 88 | October 1, 2013 | Wine Advocate
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena District Collection possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as sweet black currant and kirsch-like fruit, medium body, very good concentration, spice and wood notes and moderate tannin. A big improvement over pre-Boisset vintages, this attractive 2010 can be drunk now and over the next decade.
Score: 92 | June 30, 2013 | Wine Spectator
This is firm and well-structured with a tight core of cear-laced dried currant, black licorice, road tar and mocha. Ends with gripping tannins. - JL
Score: 93 | May 1, 2013 | Wine Enthusiast
An ambitious Cabernet that’s part of Raymond’s program of highlighting individual appellations within Napa Valley. This wine is delicious, exhibiting rich, deep flavors of black currants with tasteful accents of oak. While it’s fine to drink now, the tannins and long finish suggest up to eight years in the cellar will be beneficial.