2013 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard

I have kept this bottle carefully for years after buying it in London and bringing it over to Bordeaux, and it totally delivered on expectations. To be honest, I had a moment of wondering if I needed to drink it up, and so opened it just in case, but was underestimating how brilliantly Kronos can age. The tension, balance and elegance are striking, but so is the generosity and pleasure - think pure liqourice root, cigar box, tomato leaf, blueberry fruit, rose petals and spiced Christmas cake. Intense and concentrated but langurous and measured. Beautiful wine from a master winemaker.

Lot 7. Mid crimson with a pale rim. More intense and ripe on the nose than the Spottswoode 2014. Rich but appetising with a light animal note and also some cassis liqueur. Quite marked tannins on the end. (JR)

The weather in spring was perfect for flowering and fruit set, leading to ample yields for the vintage. However, a drought as well as relatively cool weather during summer means wines from the 2013 vintage have great structural depth. In general, wines from the 2013 vintage can be expected to carry a balance of fruit presence and structure – less friendly than the fruit-forward 2012 vintage, but with greater ageing potential, and more persistence and complexity through the palate. I consider 2013 one of Napa Valley’s truly great vintages. Black core and ruby edges. Star bright in the glass. Expressive perfume on the nose with aromatics of dried roses and cedar accents – these carry into the palate alongside forest-floor elements, mixed spices of cigar box, gunpowder and mixed fruits – crisp red, blue and black fruits with mixed citrus notes. Firm blue plum, redcurrant, blackcurrant, ruby-red grapefruit and dark cocoa powder. Cocoa-powder tannin and balanced acidity. Tons of structure here with quite fine-powder tannin make the wine an impressive balance of approachable and yet with tenacious ageing potential. There is a lot of complexity here that will reveal itself with more time in bottle. Youth offers exotic perfumes currently that will deepen into the wine with age. Nicely done. (ECB)