2014 David Arthur Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1147

The flagship wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1147, is all Cabernet Sauvignon compared to the Old Vine, which is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot, and the Three Acre that is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 2% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is pedal-to-the-metal, seriously endowed, full-throttle Cabernet Sauvignon from Pritchard Hill. Chocolate, crème de cassis, incense, graphite and earth make for a complex, multidimensional set of aromatics. Full-bodied, round, juicy and, like so many 2014s, already showing complexity and easy appeal. This full-bodied, layered and rich Cabernet Sauvignon should drink well for another 20-25 years, but there is no reason to defer gratification.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Elevation 1147 is subtle, nuanced and polished. Silky tannins give the 2014 much of its supple, inviting personality. The Elevation is the most accessible of the 2014 Cabernets. In 2014, the Elevation has a bit more density than normal, but the style is one of restraint, as is the case with all of the wines here. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, spice and leather add aromatic intrigue, while the 100% new French oak adds mid palate sweetness and depth.

In 2014, the Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Elevation 1147 is the most refined of the wines at David Arthur. Finely-cut and delineated throughout, the Elevation speaks to nuance above all else. Sweet dark cherry, lavender, mint and crushed rocks abound in a Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the energy and nuance of the year, with fine-grained tannins and terrific overall balance. In this vintage, the core parcel of the Elevation got more hang time than normal.