2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
(14.7% alcohol; 100% Cabernet Sauvignon): Bright, dark ruby-red. Classic Cabernet aromas of cassis, graphite, bitter chocolate and camphor, along with nutty oak and a suggestion of superripeness. Plush, glyceral and smooth, offering slightly jammy flavors of black cherry, plum, currant, chocolate and spices. Can't match the 2002 for lift but this rather exotic wine is dark and deep. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins and a lingering note of black cherry. Seems relatively high in volatile acidity but then Steve Pride noted that VA levels for this bottling are nearly always in the 0.8-0.9 grams-per-liter range.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
In contrast, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (14.7% natural alcohol) is an equal part blend of Napa and Sonoma fruit. There is no doubting the Cabernet Sauvignon in this wine! Classic notes of cedarwood, underbrush, licorice, black currants and tobacco leaf are textbook definitions of this varietal. The color is even denser than the Reserve Claret's, and the bouquet offers additional notes of Chinese black tea. Elegant with great acid as well as stunning concentration, richness and a full-bodied mouthfeel, this is another world-class effort that pushes the envelope toward perfection. It is a remarkable success for the vintage, partly due to the fact that the extremes of weather experienced on the valley floor were less problematic for these high altitude sites. It should keep for another 6-10 years. Tel. (707) 963-4949