Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

 

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Duckhorn Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
  • Vintage : 2021
  • Country : USA
  • Region : California
  • Subregion : Napa
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Rich and Spicy
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14,5°
  • Grappes : 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc

The Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to the legacy and expertise of Duckhorn Vineyards, a winery renowned for producing exceptional wines since 1978. This wine perfectly embodies the complexity of Napa Valley, offering a seamless balance of fruit, oak, and tannins.

Experts Score Vintage
JS James Suckling 92 2019
CG Connoisseurs' Guide 91 2019
WS Wine Spectator 90 2019
JD Jeb Dunnuck 90 2019
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The fruit for the Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from both estate vineyards and top growers across the Napa Valley. The vineyards span various sub-appellations, including Oak Knoll, Rutherford, Oakville, and Calistoga. The diverse terroir of these regions, with their unique soil compositions and microclimates, contributes to the wine's complexity and depth.

The Napa Valley region is celebrated for its ideal wine-growing conditions, characterized by a Mediterranean climate with warm days and cool nights. This diurnal temperature variation helps in maintaining the acidity and developing the flavors in the grapes. The soil diversity, from gravelly loam to volcanic and clay, further adds to the unique characteristics of the wines produced here.

Winemaking

Crafted with meticulous care, this wine is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are harvested from both mountain and valley floor sites, ensuring a rich and layered profile. Each varietal is carefully vinified to express its unique characteristics while contributing to the overall harmony of the blend.

The wine undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks before being aged for 16 months in 100% French oak barrels, with 50% new and 50% neutral oak. This aging process enhances the wine's structure and integrates its flavors harmoniously. The use of French oak imparts subtle spice and vanilla notes, complementing the fruit's natural richness.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Deep, vibrant ruby.
  • Aroma: Aromas of spiced blackberry, blueberry cobbler, black currant, milk chocolate, and licorice.
  • Palate: On the palate, lively acidity adds poise and brightness to the blackberry and black raspberry flavors. Rich, chocolaty tannins and hints of black tea contribute to a supple, sophisticated texture, culminating in a long, luxurious finish.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Grilled Ribeye Steak: The robust flavors and rich tannins of the wine complement the savory, charred notes of the steak.
  • Roast Lamb with Herbs: The wine's complexity and depth enhance the aromatic herbs and tender meat.
  • Dark Chocolate Desserts: The wine's milk chocolate and licorice notes pair wonderfully with dark chocolate desserts, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.
  • Aged Cheddar Cheese: The wine's acidity and richness balance the sharp, tangy flavors of aged cheddar, making for an elegant pairing.

History of Duckhorn Vineyards Estate

Duckhorn Vineyards was founded in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn. Inspired by their travels to the Bordeaux region of France, particularly the Right Bank areas of St. Emilion and Pomerol, Dan and Margaret envisioned producing top-tier wines in Napa Valley. They saw potential in Merlot, a grape often overshadowed by Cabernet Sauvignon in the United States. Their inaugural vintage in 1978, which included 800 cases each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, was met with immediate acclaim, marking the beginning of Duckhorn’s prestigious journey.

Dan Duckhorn’s passion for Merlot stemmed from his belief in its approachability, versatility with food, and its capacity to produce wines of remarkable depth and complexity. This focus on Merlot was revolutionary at the time and positioned Duckhorn Vineyards as a trailblazer in the American wine industry. Over the years, the estate expanded its vineyard holdings and built a reputation for meticulous craftsmanship and unwavering quality.

Under the leadership of Tom Rinaldi, Duckhorn’s first winemaker, the winery established a robust winemaking philosophy centered around blending wines from various vineyard blocks to enhance complexity and balance. This tradition continues today, ensuring that every bottle of Duckhorn wine reflects the unique terroirs of Napa Valley.

Duckhorn Vineyards

Region and Vineyards

Duckhorn Vineyards’ estate vineyards are strategically spread across Napa Valley and the renowned slopes of Howell Mountain. These vineyards are meticulously managed to bring out the best characteristics of each terroir, contributing to the complexity and depth of Duckhorn’s wines.

The Napa Valley vineyards benefit from a Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. This climate, combined with diverse soil types including gravelly loam and volcanic ash, provides ideal conditions for growing a variety of grapevines. The valley floor vineyards, with their alluvial fans and well-draining soils, produce grapes with concentrated flavors and balanced acidity.

Howell Mountain, situated above the fog line, enjoys more consistent sunlight and cooler temperatures, resulting in a longer growing season. The rocky soils of Howell Mountain stress the vines, leading to smaller berries with intense flavors and robust tannins. These unique conditions contribute to the production of powerful, age-worthy wines.

Duckhorn Vineyards also sources grapes from other prestigious appellations within Napa Valley, such as Rutherford and Oakville, known for their distinctive microclimates and soil compositions. This diversity allows Duckhorn to craft wines that are rich, layered, and expressive of their origins.

Duckhorn's Napa Valley Estate Vineyard Portfolio

  • Three Palms Vineyard is emblematic for Duckhorn, known for its exceptional Merlot. Located in the Calistoga appellation, this 73.66-acre vineyard is covered in volcanic stones that absorb and release heat, promoting optimal grape ripening. The varied soils, including Bale Loam and Cortina Very Stony Loam, contribute to the complexity of the wines produced here.
  • Marlee’s Vineyard, located in St. Helena, covers 16.43 acres and is bordered by the Napa River. This vineyard is ideal for Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, thanks to its rich, well-drained sandy loam soils. The grapes grown here are essential to the production of Duckhorn's white wines.
  • Stout Vineyard on Howell Mountain spans 35.45 acres at an altitude of 2,080 feet. The old vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, some of the oldest on the estate, produce grapes with rare complexity, influenced by the Aiken and Boomer-Forward-Felta Complex loamy soils.
  • Monitor Ledge Vineyard, located in Calistoga, covers 36.88 acres. Planted on the alluvial fan of Selby Creek, this vineyard features gravelly and sandy soils that drain quickly, promoting intense and structured grapes.
  • Rector Creek Vineyard, adjacent to the Paraduxx winery, is located along the Silverado Trail in Yountville. This 34.78-acre site is characterized by rocky alluvial soils, producing wines with abundant notes of dark red fruits.
  • Patzimaro Vineyard in St. Helena, named in honor of the Hurtado family, covers 14.81 acres. Situated at the base of Spring Mountain, it benefits from high daytime temperatures and cool night breezes, producing balanced and elegantly structured wines.
  • Cork Tree Vineyard in Napa is the southernmost and coolest vineyard on the estate. The 15.02-acre site, named after a majestic cork tree, produces sophisticated and well-structured wines, ideal for Merlot.
  • El Veredicto Vineyard in the Los Carneros region of Napa Valley is ideal for Burgundian varieties. The Haire clay soils and the cool climate influenced by San Pablo Bay produce high-quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.
  • Wolfe Vineyard in St. Helena, covering 13.12 acres, has been producing high-quality Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for over 15 years. The climate and loamy soils of this vineyard are perfect for cultivating world-class grapes.

Wine Range

Duckhorn Vineyards offers a diverse portfolio of wines, each showcasing the unique characteristics of the Napa Valley terroir. The estate is particularly celebrated for its Merlot, which remains a cornerstone of their production. Duckhorn’s Merlot wines are known for their lush, velvety texture, vibrant fruit flavors, and sophisticated structure.

In addition to Merlot, Duckhorn produces outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, characterized by its bold, dark fruit flavors, firm tannins, and excellent aging potential. Their Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and refreshing, with bright acidity and notes of citrus and tropical fruits. The winery also crafts Bordeaux-style blends, combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and other traditional varieties to create complex, harmonious wines.

The Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, one of Duckhorn’s flagship wines, has garnered significant acclaim and is considered one of the finest examples of Merlot in the world. This vineyard’s unique soil and microclimate contribute to the wine’s rich, concentrated flavors and exceptional aging potential.

Did you know?

Duckhorn Vineyards was instrumental in the revival of Merlot in the American wine market. At a time when Merlot was often relegated to blending, Duckhorn’s commitment to producing high-quality, varietal Merlot helped elevate its status and popularity among wine enthusiasts and critics alike. This pioneering spirit has earned Duckhorn a place among Napa Valley’s most respected and influential wineries.

James Suckling (JS) : 92 Points (2019)
Aromas of wet stone, gravel and blackcurrant. Full-bodied with fine, velvety tannins. Juicy, bright and fresh. Lovely dark fruit, with gravel and wet-stone notes adding very nice definition. Chocolate finish.

Connoisseurs' Guide (CG) : 91 Points (2019)
There are certainly bigger and bolder Cabernets to be had, but success is not always dependent on bombast, and this cohesive, very fine tuned example wins high recommendation for its continuity and varietal precision. If at first seeming a little restrained, it keeps revealing more nuance and depth with each sniff and sip, and it is an impeccably balanced wine that holds and holds at the finish. Its well-measured tannins never threaten it with toughness, yet they nonetheless ensure fine aging potential for a half-dozen or more years, and, all in all, this is a class act well worth a place in the cellar.

Wine Spectator (WS) : 90 Points (2019)
A ripe, polished and direct style, with cassis, blackberry and red cherry puree gliding through, inlaid with light mocha and vanilla accents through the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (JD) : 90 Points (2019)
Also terrific, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding wine that shines for its balance and purity. Clean currant and subtle cassis fruits, notes of tobacco and cedar, medium-bodied richness, and polished tannins all make this a delicious, high-quality effort to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years or so.

Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion Red 2019
Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion Red 2019
Duckhorn Vineyards
The Discussion Red 2019
RP
93
JS
96
JD
92
Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion is a prestigious Bordeaux-style red blend that epitomizes the pinnacle of Duckhorn Vineyards' winemaking excellence. This wine is a sophisticated blend of varietals from diverse Napa Valley vineyards, embodying depth, complexity, and the ongoing dialogue that defines great winemaking.
160,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Duckhorn Vineyards Three Palms Merlot 2020
Duckhorn Vineyards Three Palms Merlot 2020
Duckhorn Vineyards
Three Palms Merlot 2020
JS
91
JS
95
WS
94
The Duckhorn Vineyards Three Palms Merlot is a highly sought-after Napa Valley Merlot, known for its elegance, complex bouquet of red fruit and spice, and a well-balanced palate with approachable tannins.
115,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
89,90 €
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