As always, the best value from Arkenstone, as it combines their Howell Mountain estate fruit with even more expensive Cabernets who make their wines at Arkenstone’s amazing winery.
Best NVD ever for Decanter:
Sourced from Arkenstone Vineyard, Heimark Vineyard, Amoenus Vineyard and Godward Vineyard, this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 22 months in 75% new French oak. Impressively bright and vivid in this vintage, it shows charismatic, crunchy red fruit character layered with lovely graphite minerality and subtle, fragrant nuances of tobacco spice. The tannins are impressively crisp on the medium-bodied palate, while the fruit profile builds with black cherry and blueberry notes, joined by hints of pine-forest and cocoa-nib freshness. Long and lingering, the finish is energizing.
And for Suckling:
Black and blue currant, spice, bay laurel, licorice root and cocoa aromas. The palate is full- bodied with fine-boned tannins and bright acidity, finishing with lovely tension and freshness. What a fresh, tense and refined Napa cab with plenty of aging potential. Drink or hold.
