2015 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake Hill Estate
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
A terrific example of how Spring Mountain wines can age, Barnett's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake boasts elegant sandalwood and cedar accents over a base of black cherries and cassis. From what the family says is their smallest-ever yields, this wine is full-bodied, rich and concentrated, still youthful and tannic but velvety in feel, with a long, vanilla-tinged finish. While this standout wine can easily age another decade or more, it is delicious now.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake captures all the intensity of this freakish vintage in its inky fruit and flamboyant personality. Crème de cassis, lavender, menthol, plum, white chocolate and copious French oak all give the Rattlesnake its opulent feel. As good as the Rattlesnake is, I wonder what it might taste like with a bit less new oak and if there is more site character that might come through.
One of the most distinctive wines in this range, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake is bold, sumptuous and super-expressive. Black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and gravel notes infuse a dark, brooding Cabernet loaded with character. Ample and explosive on the palate, the 2015 packs a real punch in its size and overall intensity.