92
Pts
Tasting notes
The 2020 Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon presents a captivating array of flavors and aromas that showcase the best expression of Napa Valley. The interplay between the luscious blueberry, savory herbaceous notes, and the indulgent presence of dark chocolate and chocolate-covered espresso beans creates a delightful combination of flavors. The cocoa powder-like tannins provide a satisfying mouthfeel, while the influence of Hungarian oak contributes a unique sweetness reminiscent of brown sugar. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a true testament to the elegance and complexity that this varietal can achieve. The 2020 Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to enjoy now, but will continue to improve with age over the next 5-10 years.
Technical information
Appellation
Napa Valley
Alcohol
14.9%
Winemaking
Fruit for the 2020 Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon was gently harvested in the early morning hours and optically sorted, selecting only the highest quality fruit for fermentation in concrete, French oak, and stainless-steel vessels. The fruit was allowed to ferment for up to 15 days with regular pump-overs to extract deep rich flavors. The wine was then gently pressed, racked, and aged for 20 months in a combination of 80% French, 10% Hungarian oak, and 1% American (65% new). Individual barrels are aged separately and are tasted frequently before the final selection of only the most compelling candidates for our Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vintage
The 2020 season will be remembered for factors beyond the typical harvest season. It was a warm, dry winter, and the rain and cooler weather didn’t arrive until the end of March. While the mild spring season was a great early start, summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days. Harvest was interrupted by wildfires across California, which came as grapes started to be picked. We were very fortunate that none of our vineyards were in the areas of the active fires.
Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon is the signature variety of the Napa Valley and the appellation excels in producing outstanding examples of this admired varietal. Napa Valley offers an ideal combination of topography, geology, and climate, that enables Cabernet Sauvignon to reach optimum ripeness, balance, and finesse. And within the valley, some exceptional vineyards and sub-appellations produce some of the finest expressions of this noble grape, truly Platinum worthy. For the 2020 vintage, our winemakers selected notable lots from vineyards spanning key Napa Valley growing regions, including the Frediani Vineyard in Calistoga, Clairmore Vineyard in Napa Valley, and Yates Family Vineyard in Mt. Veeder. A small amount of Petit Verdot was selected from Bale Ranch in St. Helena to complete this blend.