Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley — 2021
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Introduction
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WINERY After Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic Schramsberg property in Napa Valley, their son, Hugh Davies, initiated a red wine program using the family’s estate vineyards on Diamond Mountain. Starting in the 1990s, Hugh undertook the replanting of the home property to red Bordeaux varietals leading to the J. Davies Cabernet program; he later partnered with North Coast growers to launch Davies Vineyards Pinot Noirs.
WINE The Davies family, proprietors of Schramsberg Vineyards and the J. Davies Estate in Napa Valley, presents its tenth vintage of Davies Vineyards “Napa Valley” Cabernet Sauvignon. Expanding on knowledge gained through the production of the J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the Diamond Mountain estate, this bottling represents an outstanding range of sites across the Napa Valley. Each vineyard is intentionally farmed to produce low yields, resulting in vivid, concentrated flavors. The finished wine exhibits vibrant fruitful flavors, a rich texture, and firm tannic structure, allowing for enjoyment now as well as extended aging.
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Vineyard Profile
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Produced from vineyards in Atlas Peak, Oakville, Rutherford, Saint Helena, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain and Calistoga which together produce a wine of rich texture, firm structure and supple tannins.
- Appellation: Napa Valley
- Location: California
- Soil: Volcanic rock, volcanic ash, gravelly clay, and sandy quartz
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Vintage Report
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The 2021 growing season began with minimal rain, resulting in modest bud break in the spring with heat spikes from June through the beginning of September, ensuring smallsized and intensely-flavored berries. Harvest began at the end of September, with a more natural load on vines and grapes packed with flavor, resulting in another remarkable vintage.
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Vinification
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Cabernet Sauvignon harvest began at the end of midSeptember and carried into mid-October, delivering fruit with bright and balanced concentration. Fruit was carefully selected, pressed and aged 20 months, 71% in new French oak.
- Barrel Aging: 20 months (71% in new French oak)
- Coopers: Marques, Damy, Boutes, Atelier
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Merlot
- Alcohol: 14.6%
- TA: 5.9 g/L
- p H: 3.78
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Tasting Notes
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“This 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has rich aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and plum, with notes of cocoa powder, coffee, barrel spice, sage, and light herbal notes. A broad and juicy entry of raspberry welcomes the palate, along with black pepper and tobacco. The layered flavors in this wine are supported by well-structured and fine-grained tannins with a dynamic finish.”
– Winemakers Sean Thompson, Jessica Koga, Hugh Davies & Consulting Winemaker Celia Welch
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Images
Reviews
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley — 2021 – Wine Enthusiast – 90 Points
"A fresh-flavored, mouthwatering Cabernet filled with ripe purple and black fruits layered with oak spices. Melting tannins and a juicy palate deliver an approachable and lengthy wine."
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley — 2021 – Decanter – 95 Points
"This Napa Valley appellation Cabernet blend is a dynamite wine that seamlessly integrates silky tannins and ripe, pure, blue, and black-toned fruits. The fruit comes in silky-satiny waves, finishing with sweet cedar and graphite with perfumed violets."
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley — 2021 – James Suckling – 93 Points
"Cherries, baked plums, roasted meat and warm spices on the nose follow through to a full body with plush tannins. Polished, well-balanced and delicious, with a creamy core of red berries at the center and a vivid finish with length."
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley — 2021 – Vinous – 93 Points
"Packed with blue/black fruit, chocolate, spice and licorice. There's gorgeous depth, texture and complexity here. Readers will find plenty to like in this exuberant, dense Cabernet Sauvignon."