Country: U.S.A.

Region: Napa Valley

Vintage: 2016

Cépage: Cabernet Sauvignon (89%); Merlot (11%)

Size: 750 ml

Rating(s): 97 (RP); 99 (JD); 93 (JS)

" Just about as close to perfection as a wine can get, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Chris Carpenter comes mostly from mountain vineyards. This full-bodied, rounded, thrillingly textured beauty boasts a saturated purple color as well as a huge nose of crème de cassis, new saddle leather, barbecue smoke, and scorched earth. It has perfect integration of its fruit, tannins, acidity, and oak, carries remarkable power and intensity, yet still glides over the palate with no heaviness or sensation of weight. It’s going to be a legendary Napa Valley Cabernet and will have 3 decades or more of longevity."

Jeb Dunnuck (JD) - 01/19