2023 Vaca Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
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From a tiny site just below Dalla Valle in Oakville, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaca Ridge Vineyard is very varietal with darker currants, lead pencil, leather, and floral, herbal, even black olive nuances. Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 21 months in 100% new French oak, I love its complexity, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a supple, layered, elegant mouthfeel and ripe tannins. This complex, nuanced, already accessible effort has tons to love and is going to evolve gracefully over the coming 20 years. Drink 2025-2045.
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Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaca Ridge is a powerful, explosive wine from the eastern side of Oakville. Dried herbs, tobacco, incense, new leather, licorice mocha resonate off a core of dark red-toned fruit. This potent, deceptively mid-weight Cabernet has a lot to offer. Floral and savory notes lend a distinctive flair on the close.
A new single-vineyard bottling that essentially replaces the Tierra Roja in the Tor lineup—it comes from a neighboring site, just below Dalla Valle—the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaca Ridge Harter Vineyard delivers oodles of black cherries, with just a hint of crushed stone. It's full-bodied, wonderfully dense and silky, with a long, espresso-tinged finish.