2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Another magical effort, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard reveals a deep, saturated ruby/purple color as well as a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, forest floor, tobacco, bouquet garni, and dried herbs. Deep, full-bodied, and powerful, it has building structure, loads of ripe tannins, a seamless texture, and a heavenly finish. Drink this thrilling, multi-dimensional Cabernet Sauvignon over the coming 20-25 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard melds together the aromatic intensity that is such a Howell Mountain signature with plush, dark fruit and unusually soft, polished tannins - all of which make for an utterly riveting, inviting Cabernet Sauvignon of the highest level. Inky dark fruit, lavender, mint, spice, licorice and graphite develop in the glass, but it is the wine's total sense of harmony that is most compelling. This is another magnificent Cabernet from Dana. Two thousand sixteen is the first vintage in which some of the wine was aged in larger 400- and 500-liter barrels.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard fermented 77% in oak tanks, 16% in barrels and 7% in concrete. It spent 21 to 33 days on the skins and aged 27 months in French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple in color, it delivers very serious, classic cassis, cedar chest, pencil shavings and warm plums notes with nuances of lavender, dark chocolate, tobacco and crushed rocks with a waft of black olives. Full-bodied, the palate is solidly structured with firm, chunky tannins and bold freshness supporting the densely packed, muscular fruit, finishing long and mineral-laced.
Extremely perfumed aromas of tangerines and violets with blackberries, cassis and wet earth. Full-bodied yet reserved and very precise with amazing purity of currants, blackberries and lightly burnt oranges. Superb finish of firm yet extremely polished tannins. Perfect. Hard not to drink now, but better after four to five years. Try after 2023.
About the producer
Located on the Rutherford bench, Dana Estates is a small Napa estate focused on producing fine, single-site Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentrated wines are some of the region’s most sought-after, regularly earning top ratings from critics – with 19 100-point scores to date.