Describing a wine’s texture can be difficult. Words like silky, smooth, luxurious, opulent are often used. But in tasting this wine those words fail the facts. Texturally, the tactile experience of this Cabernet is unlike almost anything I’ve experienced in more than three decades covering wines and spirits. Yes those words fit, but they are still inadequate. Aside from the stunning viscosity of this wine, winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus has achieved a Cabernet that nearly transcends other Napa Cabernets in terms of style, blend and execution. I’ve often written that you can’t make an inferior wine from Prichard Hill fruit. That would be, for all practical purposes, impossible. Therefore, a wine of this impressive structure begins with excellent fruit and needs little intervention in terms of how it should proceed. The wine, in essence, guides itself. This vintage is elegant, refined and near perfect. With notes of blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry, the fruit is complemented by light lavender, subtle sweet vanilla and sandalwood, Alpine wildflowers, resin, soft tanned leather, a wisp of graphite, plum, apricot and tannins that support the structure of the wine, as well as provide traction in the palate. Comprised of all Cabernet Sauvignon with just 5% Merlot, the wine was aged for 22 months in all new French oak barrels. Yes, this is their flagship wine. Yes, it is just a bottle of Cabernet. Yes, it is also a sublime experience.
ORIGIN: Napa Valley. ALCOHOL: 14.8%
