2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Rolland is beautiful and shows a more structured, deep, layered side to the vintage. Blackcurrants, toasty oak, espresso, lead pencil shavings and hints of damp herbs all define this Bordeaux’esque beauty and it’s full-bodied, opulent and layered on the palate. Like the 2014, it’s beautifully balanced, has a deep, concentrated middle, and ripe tannin (which are covered by fruit at the moment), and will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and keep for two decades or more. It’s obvious famed Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland doesn’t have any issues sourcing terrific fruit as both his 2014 and 2015 are beautiful, classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Red Wine has a compelling, lifted nose of ripe plums, warm blackberries and cassis with tapenade, garrigue and sautéed herbs suggestions, plus a waft of roses. Medium to full-bodied, refined and with tons of freshness, this is a very well-crafted and harmonious beauty that should be delicious straight out of the gate but will reward 5-7 years of cellaring and drinking a further 15-20 years thereafter.