2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,408 g. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec. Aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months. pH 3.73. 22,908 cases produced. Inky purple colour. Coffee, char and sweet vanilla on the nose. Very firm, lightly drying tannin and elevated acidity. Subtle smokiness to the finish. GV for Napa but not the most elevated example. (SCJ)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Nicely tight, elegant, firm with tannins and alive with tasty red and black fruits. While velvety and approachable, this is a good vintage to cellar for several years for more complexity to develop. Great balance, freshness and linearity propel it through a lingering finish. Drink or hold.
A smoking value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon has loads of up-front cassis and blackberry fruit to go with a layered, medium to full-bodied, juicy style that's already hard to resist. With some classic chocolate, spice, and leafy herb notes, ripe tannins, and a good finish, it's well worth seeking out. It will evolve for a solid 7-8 years or more.
While Sequoia Grove's regular Cabernet Sauvignon may rarely win awards, it's been a consistent, reliable performer over the years, and it nearly always represents a good value. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon features hints of maple syrup, then bold black cherries and cassis. It's full-bodied and supple, easygoing but with enough concentration and structure to be more than just a quaffer. You could do a lot worse with a grilled ribeye, whether at home or at your local steakhouse.