2015 RdV Vineyards Lost Mountain
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Lost Mountain is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot, aged for 22 months in 20% new French oak. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Tightly wound, intense on the finish in both tannic structure and fruit flavor, yet always impeccably balanced, this has terrific concentration. As is always the case here, the concentration has a certain subtle aspect. It's never thick or jammy. However, it's always focused and impressive. This is set for release in mid-October. It needs that time—and far more. As between this and the 2014, this is more concentrated but more backward. It doesn't show the same purity and clarity of fruit just now, but bet that it will. In the meanwhile, while this is very definitely a little hard to read just now, requiring some prognostication for its potential, it did leave me wondering if it might be the best red I've yet seen from RdV—and Virginia. Let's be hopeful but conservative and start here. We'll see where it goes around 2023.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Mark Squires
More reviews and scores
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Cabernet Franc and a small proportion of Merlot. The 2012 seems to be the youngest vintage available retail, at around $100 a bottle – cheap by Napa standards? Mid healthy crimson. Sweet and spicy on the nose – but, as with the Rendezvous, I get some sweet oak on the nose. But then there are more reassuring savoury, balsam notes that move the wine into a more sophisticated class. Just a little hot, sweet and diffuse on the end. Without the focus and dryness of some earlier vintages. (JR)