2016 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley comes sashaying out of the glass with pretty notions of red roses, chocolate box, aniseed and black raspberries over a core of blackcurrants and black cherries. Full-bodied, firm and finely grained, it has great freshness and bags of juicy fruit, finishing with a minty kick. 400 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Starting with the least expensive release, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley makes you wonder why you would spend more on the top cuvées. This full-bodied, fruit-forward, yet deep, layered beauty gives up complex notes of crème de cassis, graphite, incense, and candied violets. It’s as seamless and balanced as they come and is a beautiful wine to drink over the coming 15-20 years. The entire lineup from Rivers Marie is stunning across the board and readers really can’t go wrong here.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga) is driving and intense, with savory, earthy notes that give the wine its distinctive personality. This powerful Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon possesses tremendous depth and muscle, both signatures of Larkmead, one of the top vineyard sites in Calistoga, and Napa Valley, for that matter.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga) is terrific and also much more polished than the 2015 tasted alongside it. All of the elements meld together effortlessly. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice and lavender build as this nuanced, beautifully resonant Cabernet shows off its personality and indelible signatures of Larkmead, one of Napa Valley's most pedigreed sites. The 2016 is going to need time to shed its tannin, but that should not be an issue in another few years.