Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 375ml (half bottle)

94 Points Wine Review Online
Don’t believe blanket proclamations about there being no Napa Valley red wine from 2020. Offerings might be few, but there are still examples worth seeking out. This is spot-on Cabernet from the Merlot masters, with classic regional profile showing on the generous side, with nice herb character folded in. Approachable now, and ageworthy as well, with no ‘fire sign.’

2020 Vintage Notes
In terms of overall weather, most of the 2020 growing season was excellent. Following a relatively dry winter, budbreak started early, and the temperatures throughout spring and summer were mild and temperate. This allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, developing pure, vibrant flavors and supple, fleshy textures. In late September, harvest was impacted by the outbreak of wildfires and the arrival of hot weather. The elevated temperatures gave many vineyards a final push to ripeness as we worked to bring in the grapes. During this period, we did extensive testing to ensure quality, excluding any fruit that did not meet our standards. While our meticulous selection process resulted in a smaller 2020 crop, the wines we produced live up to the Duckhorn name, displaying beautiful aromas, soft elegant textures, lively complexity and lush flavors.

Winemaking Notes
Crafted from both mountain and valley floor grapes, this beautifully rich and complex wine offers alluring aromas of huckleberry, cardamom, graham cracker, dark chocolate and violets. On the palate, juicy flavors of ripe boysenberry and black tea glide across finely textured tannins, with bright, balanced acidity contributing to a long, elegant finish.

91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Alc. 14.5%. 375ml half size bottle.