2016 The Vineyardist Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge is laced with sweet floral notes, raspberry jam, white pepper, mint and savory herbs. Aromatic and lifted, the Heritage Ridge shows a more floral and red-toned character than the Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a very distinctive and different side of this Diamond Mountain property.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
In the same mold as the 2015, yet with even more minerality and purity, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is an incredible mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. With a deep, saturated purple color, insane aromatics of scorched earth, high-class cigar tobacco, dark chocolate, and gravelly minerality, and fabulous depth and concentration on the palate, it’s thrilling wine that’s marginally approachable today, yet short-term cellaring will do it wonders and it will still be singing in 30+ years. It’s a true “wow” wine in every sense.
The Vineyardist's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark, sensual wine. Time has softened some of the youthful power the wine showed as a barrel sample. The perception of tannin may be attributable to the wine gaining fruit density and weight during its aging, but the structure is very much there. Black cherry, mocha, crème de cassis, gravel, chocolate, new leather, spice and savory herbs imbue the 2016 with quite a bit of character. Overall, I am impressed with how well the 2016 is showing today. I can't remember a young vintage of The Vineyardist being this open and accessible in the early going. Today, the 2016 comes across as a more accessible version of the 2013, which is not a bad thing at all. The final blend incorporates a barrel of the 2016 Lazy Susan Cabernet Sauvignon, a small production second wine the estate decided not to bottle.
Very deep purple-black in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge features compelling Black Forest cake, warm plums, Christmas pudding and mocha notes with hints of blackberry preserves, star anise, incense and sautéed herbs plus a waft of underbrush. The palate is full, rich, velvety and fresh, with plenty of richness and layers of earth flavors, finishing long and minerally. Liquid decadence.