2016 The Grade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard Calistoga
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Coming from the Winfield Vineyard in Calistoga, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is another brilliant wine from the hands of winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. This deep purple-colored effort boasts tons of blueberry and jammy blackberry fruits as well a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant style on the palate. It has the purity of fruit that’s the hallmark of the vintage, ripe, sweet tannins, and no hard edges, and is already hard to resist.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard is powerful and dense in its first impression. Dark cherry, plum, lavender menthol, iron and savory notes infuse the 2016, adding layers of nuance to this poised Calistoga Cabernet. The finish is just a bit compact, but if the fruit blossoms a bit more in time, the 2016 might very well merit an even more positive note.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard is composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 19 months in 60% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with pretty notes of crushed black and red currants, kirsch, blueberries and cedar chest plus wafts of menthol and spice box. The palate is full, concentrated, rich and boldly fruited with a firm frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing very spicy. 520 cases produced.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard comes across as raw and not fully formed. Even so, there is plenty of power and intensity in the glass. It will be interesting to follow the 2016, as it holds considerable promise.