Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
- Decanter
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Suckling
James
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Deep purple, ruby in color, the wine has fruit-driven aromas of plum, cherry, and a hint of bay leaf. The palate is rich and concentrated with flavors of red fruits, baking spice, and vanilla. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to be enjoyed with your next meal or to rest in your cellar for future enjoyment.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
One of the compelling reasons for the 'nesting' of Napa's AVAs is to prove just how different the Valley's sub-districts can be, something that this wine from Oak Knoll makes admirably clear. The wine is a dark opaque black, but its soft, respiring resins and calmly ordered fruits alert the drinker from the aromatic profile alone that the wine has nothing monstrous or disproportionate about it. It's ripe but supple and graceful, with as much juicy acidity as textured tannins: drinkable, accessible and fresh. The Napa hallmark of opulence is there in the succulent grain of the fruit, but in every other respect this is deft, finely judged midweight.
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James Suckling
Blueberry and mushroom aromas with hints of dried flowers. Medium to full body. Blackberries. Firm tannins. Juicy finish. Needs some time to soften. Better after 2022.
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A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
As one of Napa’s coolest sub-appellations, the area begs for diversity among its vineyards. Merlot and Chardonnay firmly compete with Cabernet Sauvignon for a place here. Some of Napa’s best Zinfandels also come from the Oak Knoll District.
Situated far in Napa’s southern end, Oak Knoll receives a strong cooling influence from both the San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Coast’s evening fog and breezes. Summer days are warm but on average ten degrees cooler than in St. Helena farther north up the valley; summer nights are chilly. A long growing season promotes for leisurely ripening of grape berries, resulting in an impressive balance of sugars, phenols and acidity.
Notable producers include Trefethen, one of the appellation’s oldest wineries, Robert Biale, legendary Zinfandel producer and Lewis Cellars, a family-run, hands-on establishment.