1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Tasting Notes
The newly-released 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals lots of structure, an opaque purple color, and the hallmark blackberry and cassis liqueur-like notes. Silky-textured, fabulously-concentrated, and gorgeously-balanced, it has every component part - acidity, alcohol, tannin, and extract - flawlessly presented.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Saturated ruby-red color. Complex aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, currant, marzipan, licorice and honeysuckle. Very rich and dense, but quite tightly wound; cassis, mint and tobacco flavors blossomed with aeration. Very long, firmly tannic finish. This wine was lusher and more expressive after 24 hours in the recorked bottle, showing a roasted coffee bean quality, with no loss of shape or freshness. Screaming Eagle has been remarkably consistent in recent vintages, and is one of a relative handful of California cabernets that conveys a strong sense of site specificity.
About the producer
Screaming Eagle is one of the Napa Valley’s original cult Cabernets. Right from the first release, the now iconic producer garnered huge scores and a fanatic following.