| Producer | Vine Hill Ranch |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Napa Valley |
| Subregion | Oakville |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vintage | 2013 |
| Sku | 17977 |
| Size | 1.5L |
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is just as magical as it has always been. In several recent tastings, the 2013 has started to show its first signs of aromatic development. Black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, spice, mocha, espresso and grilled herbs are all dialed up in a decidedly dense, ripe and flamboyant wine for this estate, with big tannins that are starting to resolve. This shows just how much the style has evolved here in less than a decade. Today's wines are more refined, but in that context, the 2013 comes across as somewhat bombastic, with a strong new oak imprint that is impossible to miss.
A slightly higher production of 775 cases was made with the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a prodigious Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of creosote, camphor and burning embers, which give it an almost Graves-like character, but then the rich, creamy, pure blackberry and cassis fruit kick in. The wine has fabulous intensity, a multi-layered, dense, full-bodied texture and terrific finish. The tannins are slightly more dominant than in the 2012, but they offer sweetness and creaminess as opposed to any astringency or harshness, This is a modern-day classic from Vine Hill Ranch and probably the finest wine they have ever made. Drink it over the next 30+ years.
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