WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
The pinnacle of our portfolio, Lot No. 1 is Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak form of expression. This wine showcases standout blocks from iconic Napa Valley vineyards, resulting in a blend that exhibits power, depth and intensity with a discernible measure of polish and elegance. With the 2019 vintage, notes of crème de cassis, black cherry, green olive and dried fennel root extend from the nose through to the supple, bold palate. The unctuous finish uncovers layers of oak that you would expect from a classic Napa Cabernet.
TASTING NOTES:
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 95% new French oak. It is hitting all the marks of the 2019 vintage with exceptional acid tension balanced by imminently dark berry flavours and nuanced by perfectly integrated cedarwood spices. This is a wine built for the ages, with polish and poise. The use of less American Oak in favour of more French oak in the cellar has helped this wine find its voice, which rings out loud and clear in a full-bodied style that is polished, with precise blackberry fruit, beautiful forest floor notes, and gorgeous Chines five spice, graphite, and liquorice notes woven around a tapestry of extremely fine-grained tannins. Compact, tightly knit and mineral-rich on the long 60-second finish.
- Decanter, 95 pts.
Martini's top Cabernet has been largely produced from purchased fruit in the past, but the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 1 is almost half from Stagecoach. It also includes important contributions from Coombsville, Mount Veeder, Howell Mountain and Calistoga. Cherries and cassis dominate the nose, graced with faint herbal notions and a delicate framing of new French oak. Full-bodied, expansive, rich and velvety, it finishes with softly dusty tannins and hints of cocoa.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96+ pts.
