2014 Vineyard 7 & 8 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a dense, powerful wine. Textured and sumptuous in the glass, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes richness. Twenty six months in 100% new French oak gives the wine much of its shape. Black cherry, plum, mocha, spice and new leather add to an impression of darkness and intensity. This is an especially opulent style for a hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, with soft contours, forward fruit and plenty of near to medium-term appeal.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes all from the estate vineyard on Spring Mountain, saw 50-60-day maceration and spent 26 months in 100% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by terrific notes of blackcurrants, truffle, chocolate, toasted oak, and licorice. This big, meaty, chunky Cabernet Sauvignon has full-bodied richness, plenty of oak to integrate, and a slightly monolithic style. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and hope for the best.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, the first vintage made under Martha McClellan's tenure, is bright, aromatically lifted and nuanced, but without sacrificing any of the power or intensity that are such house signatures. Beams of salinity and mountain tannin add brightness throughout. It will be interesting to see how the 2014 develops over the next year as it finishes its aging and goes into bottle. About a quarter of the fruit was fermented in barrel, while macerations were longer than had been the norm here previously.