Davies Vineyards
J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley
J. Davies Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyard blocks totaling 41 acres and ranging from approximately 500 to 1,000 feet in elevation. The J. Davies Estate blend always includes some Estate Malbec, a “secret” component adding brightness and dimension to the finished wine.
The vineyard blocks, totaling 46 acres, are laid out in four isolated pockets ranging from 500 to 1000 feet in elevation. They include the two Schram sections, Napa Valley’s first hillside vineyards, originally planted in 1862 by Jacob Schram, the McEachran parcel, first planted by Colin McEachran in 1878, and the Claes parcel, dating back to 1984. These are the southernmost vineyards in the Diamond Mountain District AVA. Flanked by two cool creek canyons (Nash Creek to the north and Ritchie Creek to the south) and surrounded by compact coniferous and deciduous forests, the vines here produce late-ripening, richly concentrated fruit with average yields of just two tons per acre.
- Region
- California: Napa Valley
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Sub-Appellation
- Diamond Mountain District
- Varietal Composition
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Aging
- 20 months, with 60% in new French oak barrels.
- Alcohol
- 14.69%
Voluptuous black fruit such as blueberry, black cherry, boysenberry and plum, accentuated by undertones of chocolate, cinnamon, blackberry compote, espresso, dark cocoa, prune, clove, mint and herbal notes. Supple tannins anchor the wine’s well-structured palate, where flavors of spiced red fruit and warm spices lead to a rich mouth-filling weight and a lengthy finish.
Decanter
97 Points
2022
"This is one of the most structured and elegant wines in the J. Davies lineup, which I tasted with winemaker Celia Welch. It carries power and density of fruit weight, with a wealth of seductive red- and black-toned fruit wrapped in tobacco leaves dusted with dark cacao powder. A salty minerality fuels the full-bodied finish, while the wine builds in intensity, lingering long on the palate."
— Jonathan Cristaldi, 2025
Wine Advocate
95+ Points
2022
"From the family's estate on Diamond Mountain, the 2022 J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Matured 23 months in 53% new French oak, it offers up scents of crushed stone, pencil shavings, cassis and cherries, plus some attractive herbal nuances—almost violet-like floral notes. In the mouth, it's concentrated and harmonious, with a long, silky finish. While approachable young, it should be capable of aging up to two decades. Like most of the Davies wines, it's reasonably priced for the quality."
— Joe Czerwinski, 2025
