2017 Vintner Select Cabernet Sauvignon

This 100% cabernet wine is both opulent and dense, with extracted flavors of blackberry, blueberry, cassis, mocha, and a touch of freshly crushed mint. The velvety tannins are present both up-front and throughout the lengthy finish, while the midpalate is round, opaque and silky.

While our Reserve Cab is selected to have as much structure as possible with a small amount of petit verdot contributing in this regard, the goal for the VS Cab each vintage is to produce a more feminine wine that shows off pure cabernet flavors in a smoother more silky style without sacrificing the weight and viscosity we love in our mountain reds. The VS Cab acquires this elegant profile from cabernet sauvignon clone 337 that typically makes up at least 80% of the blend.  Production level of the VS Cab is in the 500 to 700 case range each vintage in comparison to 1500+ cases of Reserve Cab and 6000+ cases of Pride Cab.

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Appellation: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2017
Harvest: September 2017
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Cooperage: French Oak
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 14.7%
Bottling: July 2019
Production: 763 cases
Release Date: January 2020
Release Price: $98.00

Reviews

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  • Antonio Galloni Vinous: January 2021 - Rating: 93

    The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner Select exudes power and intensity. The Vintner Select Cabernet seems to have handled the challenges of the growing season a bit better than the Merlot. There is good depth here, and plenty of complexity as well. Dried flowers, grilled herbs tobacco, iron and crushed leaves add aromatic savoriness to the dark fruit.

  • Jeb Dunnuck: Napa Valley’s 2017s - Rating: 92

    Cut from the same cloth, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintners Select sports a ruby/purple hue as well as attractive black plum and red currant fruits as well as plenty of spice-box, chocolate, and dried earth. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, with solid mid-palate depth, and notable yet ripe tannins, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.

  • Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: December 2020 - Rating: 91

    Very nice, mid-density aromas tilting towards black cherry with suggestions of currants and dark spice give this wine good early impressions. It is a little less complete on the palate at this point, but time will see some of its tannins take on a softer edge and allow it to drink well with all manner of rich beef roasts. It will turn the trick today with grilled steaks, but we see more in its future and would strongly suggest that it be aged for some three to six years for starters. 

  • Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate: Issue 251 End of October 2020, The Wine Advocate - Rating: 93+

    Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Select comes entirely from Napa County. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it springs from the glass with gregarious notes of baked red and black plums, warm cassis and black raspberries plus hints of dried Provence herbs, lilacs, menthol and clove oil with a waft of fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, the palate is wonderfully elegant and refreshing, delivering compelling black fruit preserves with loads of red fruit sparks and a plush texture, finishing spicy.