2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill (an 8-acre, south-facing parcel) comes from white volcanic ash soils called “tufa.” It is an extraordinarily young, full-bodied Cabernet offering plenty of blackberry, cassis, white chocolate and crushed rock characteristics along with huge tannins. In fact, I thought it was even more backward than the Red Rock Terrace or Gravelly Meadow. Intense and full with fabulous potential, this is another compelling effort from Diamond Creek. Forget it for a decade and drink it over the following 25-30+ years. These three extremely youthful and impressive wines from Diamond Creek Vineyards are all backward and in need of 5-7 years of additional cellaring. By the way, each of these three vineyards has the exact same percentage of grapes (88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot) planted in them, which makes comparing them fascinating. Tel. (707) 942-6926
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
92 pp, 91 ws. Plenty of intensity, but not extrovert: liquorice and menthol alongside the fruit. Well crafted, still very youthful, smooth and pure and silky – super-smooth tannins. (RH)
Ruby-red. Cool aromas of cassis, dark chocolate and mocha. Juicy, brisk and quite penetrating but distinctly suppler and sweeter than the Red Rock Terrace, with rich, layered flavors of cassis and blackberry. Finishes firmly tannic and long. This wine has much more breadth to buffer its tannins.
About the producer
Diamond Creek, Napa’s first single-vineyard Cabernet estate, has defined terroir-driven winemaking since 1968. Founded by Al and Boots Brounstein, the winery pioneered site-specific Cabernet, producing age-worthy wines from Gravelly Meadow, Red Rock Terrace and Volcanic Hill.