2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
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Tasting notes
Fruit sourced from Tench, Double H Ranch and Rentaria 360. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with just a bit of Petit Verdot from Tench. Fermented on skins for 2–3 weeks in small tanks. Matured 20 months in French oak barrel. Unfined. Unfiltered. Deep ruby with a hint of purple. Rich unctuous fruit with a note of orange oil and a bit of blackcurrant. Fresh acidity and super-fine tannin. Quite long. A bit of savoury meaty char and cedar to the finish. Intensely concentrated. (SCJ)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Checking in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot, all from Oakville, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville sports a dense purple hue to go with straight-up textbook Oakville notes of darker fruits, iron, black olives, and tobacco, with just a kiss of background spring flowers. It's medium to full-bodied, round, textured, beautifully balanced, and has tons of classic varietal character. It's a brilliant value to enjoy any time over the coming 15 years.
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) is a big, full-bodied wine that will delight readers who enjoy the more overt side of Napa Valley Cabernet. Tobacco, spice, leather, chocolate, licorice and savory tones are front and center. A dollop of Petit Verdot from Tench adds darkness.
Bottled just one week before I tasted it, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville was showing rather well, with gentle floral and sage nuances set against a backdrop of rich loam and black cherries. Yes, it's still a bit tight, but this medium to full-bodied effort boasts silky tannins and a long finish. Don't overlook it because it isn't vineyard-designated.