2016 Doubleback Estate Reserve Red
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Tasting notes
Intense and concentrated with dark red and black fruit, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve has a density that will take some time to come around. The nose is overly generous, with aromas of plums, blackberry, black cherry skin and red and purple flowers weighed down by dust. Massively full-bodied on the palate, the wine is dense and chewy with gritty tannins, while the core of dark fruit core remains steadfast and unchanging, leading to the long, contemplative finish. I recommend laying this down in your cellar next to the young bottles of Bordeaux and Barolo, and just forget about it until 2026 so that you can revisit this bottle on its 10th birthday. Be patient with any of the bottles from this 220-case production.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
This has a cedary edge to the nose with quite concentrated dark-cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant and espresso aromas, all interwoven nicely. The palate delivers a suave impression with a wealth of layered tannin and a sleek, approachable yet concentrated style. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot and malbec. Drink or hold.
The 2016 Estate Reserve is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance an even split of Petit Verdot and Malbec. It's not too dissimilar from the classic Cabernet Sauvignon yet has a touch more purity as well as elegance, and I suspect the large chunk of Petit Verdot is a driving factor in the differences. It offers a beautiful bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberries, crushed rocks, smoke tobacco, and violets that changes beautifully with time in the glass. Ultra-pure, full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it's a totally thrilling, satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon that will keep for 20-25 years. Bravo!
(this bottling is from the best barrels that make the cut after the first year; mostly from McQueen vineyard at higher elevation but includes some Cabernet Sauvignon from The Rocks; 90% new oak, vs. 75% for the varietal Cabernet Sauvignon): Full ruby-red. Deep, slightly musky scents and flavors of black raspberry, boysenberry, licorice, violet and sexy oak, plus a hint of smoky Rocks. Plush, rich, seamless and deep; a more sensual and pliant wine than the basic '16, but also with great depth and refinement. Still a bit subdued in the middle palate but the wine's extraordinarily long, slowly unfolding finish promises a glorious future. And the wonderfully suave tannins are totally buffered by the wine's dense material. This is up there with the very best red wines from Washington and should age a long time on its verve, balance and concentration. As with the 15s last year, this wine initially seems more approachable than the Cabernet Sauvignon but possesses terrific depth and greater stuffing. Incidentally, the blend includes some Petit Verdot and Malbec but there's barely a hint of inkiness. Don't penalize this beauty for its early plushness--or drink it too soon. Incidentally, this wine was previously labeled as Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.