Reviews

Starting with the 2019 Merlot Napa Valley Reserve, which includes 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, from multiple vineyards, it’s medium to full-bodied, round, and mouth-filling, with a charming, darker fruited, chocolaty style that’s a joy to drink. It should keep for 5-7 years, although there’s no need to delay gratification.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve is also incredible, and given the large quantities here, it should be relatively easy to find. Lots of currants, tobacco, cedar, and dried herb notes emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with nicely integrated oak, sweet tannins, and a great finish. Hats off to winemaker Stephanie Putnam for making such an impressive wine at this price point and quantity. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Generations is one of the flagship releases and comes from three vineyards, two in St. Helena and one in Oakville. It’s 100% Cabernet and was raised in 59% new French oak. This richly textured, full-bodied, ripe, perfectly balanced 2019 gives up lots of darker currant fruits and notes of spice and green tobacco, with background oak and ultra-fine tannins. The balance is spot on, and this is another beautiful, layered, compelling Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Stephanie Putnam.

Cooler climate-like notes currants, green herbs, tobacco, and chocolate emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Yountville, a medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, structured Cabernet. The tannins are more obvious here, so give it 3-4 years in the cellar.

Lots of ripe currants, loamy earth, truffle, and savory herb notes emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Stags Leap, and it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, seamless, balanced style that’s already drinking nicely. As with all the Single Vineyard District Collection releases, it’s all varietal, and this release spent 19 months in 50% new Taransaud barrels.

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.

Another gem is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Rutherford, a more savory, red and black-fruited 2019 that has complex notes of tobacco leaf, truffle, and loamy earth. I love its tannins, it’s medium to full-bodied, and incredibly elegant on the palate. It picks up more classic green tobacco and underbrush notes with air and is a satisfying, complete, balanced Cabernet to enjoy over the coming 15-20 years.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Oakville comes from the east of the valley and two separate blocks in the vineyard. It spent 19 months in 41% new French oak. Lots of tobacco, lead pencil, and both cassis and assorted currant-like fruits define the bouquet, and it’s ripe, balanced, and mouth-filling, with velvety tannins. It’s already hard to resist, but it unquestionably has 15+ years of longevity ahead of it. This is classic Oakville goodness.

Coming from the northern part of the valley, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Diamond Mountain boasts a deep ruby/plum color as well as a vibrant, surprisingly fresh bouquet of blue fruits, cedarwood, tobacco, and iron. Medium to full-bodied and focused, with building, ripe tannins, it shows its mountain origins and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. As with all these releases from winemaker Stephanie Putnam, it will have not issues evolving for 15+ years.

The deep ruby-hued 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Calistoga is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was raised all in 32% new Saury barrels. It has wonderful balance as well as a medium to full-bodied, elegant, almost understated profile that builds nicely with air. It has classic Cabernet darker currants fruits as well as subtle tobacco, incense, and floral nuances. Again, the balance is terrific, and it should have no problems evolving for 15+ years. I suspect it will show more intensity with another couple of years of bottle age as well.