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DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
ALTA Napa Valley Revival
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
(Napa Valley) $60
This wine was made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Cabernet Franc (7%), Merlot (5%) and Petit Verdot (3%).
Aroma: Dark cherry, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, mesquite honey, mushrooms, asparagus, tea tree oil, thyme, menthol, earthy, soil, moss, minerals, lovely lively oak and forest.
Palate: Black cherry, cherry, blackberry, plum, currant, herbaceous, green pepper, wet grass, mesquite, leather, graphite, mild oak, lean, soft, delicate.
Finish: Black currant, celery seeds, pepper, limestone, oak, tannic, complex, powerful, pleasant, elegant.
Double Gold Medal
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St. Supéry Napa Valley
Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
(Napa Valley) $90
Following fermentation, this wine – made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels (66% new) prior to bottling.
Aroma: Sweet black cherry, light chocolate, musty, old books, cedar, wood, bright fresh-cut oak, nice richness, very pleasant.
Palate: Dark cherry, sweet black cherry, raspberry, currant, fruit-forward, red delicious apple skin, sweet pepper, herbaceous, bay leaf, sage, white pepper, light chocolate, coffee, licorice, musty, soft tannins, good oak integration, nice ripeness, bright, pleasant.
Finish: Honey, apple pie filling, pepper, sharp acidity, tannins, solid, well-balanced, nice finish.
Double Gold Medal
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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Lawer Estates
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
(Napa Valley) $65
This wine was made from almost all Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Napa Valley (94.4%) and a small amount of Petite Sirah (0.6%) from Sonoma. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 20 months in French oak (50% 2-3 year old barrels and 50% new barrels).
Aroma: RIch blackberry, raspberry, berry, cherry jam, dried cherries, chocolate, caramel, green pepper, moss, bitter almond, woodsy, oak.
Palate: Cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, currants, well-integrated fruit, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, cardamom, oak, smooth, balanced.
Finish: Blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, minerals, flintiness, oak.
Gold Medal
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Prime Solum
Cabernet Sauvignon Brokenrock Vineyard 2013
(Napa Valley) $79
Following fermentation, this wine (made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested from a vineyard in eastern Napa Valley) was aged for 33 months in French oak barrels (40% new, remainder one and two years old).
Aroma: Sweet black cherry, cherry, dark berries, raspberry, dark chocolate, red flowers, roses, sweet perfume, sage, cinnamon, fresh hot peppers, bright light oak, zingy.
Palate: Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, bay leaf, incense, tobacco, leather, flinty, graphite, strong tannins, black smoke, smoky, well-structured, robust, flavorful.
Finish: Black cherry, blackberry, green apple, bay leaf, hot cinnamon, mineral, tart oak, creamy.
Gold Medal
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Jordan
Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2014
(Sonoma County) $56
Made primarily from grapes (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 6% Petite Verdot and smaller amounts of Malbec and Cabernet Franc) harvested from the Jordan Estate. Following fermentation and assembly of individual lots into the final blend, the wine was aged in mainly French oak barrels (94%) for 12 months prior to bottling.
Aroma: Cherry, black cherry, boysenberry, light raspberry, generous fruit, cola, cinnamon, cumin, cut walnut sapling, oak, high tannin, some complexity.
Palate: Cherry, raspberry, sweet blackberry, currant, cola, cigar smoke, woody, oak, bright acidity, tannins, lean, balanced, smooth, elegant.
Finish: Cherry, cassis, sage, tannic, woody, oak, sharp acidity, smoky.
Gold Medal
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Levendi
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
(Napa Valley) $60
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested from Mill Race Vineyard in Yountville, and following fermentation was aged for 20 months in French oak (55%) and Hungarian oak barrels (45%) before bottling.
Aroma: Bright cherry, dried cherry, prunes, vegetal, mossy, green herbs, asafoetida, dusty, minerals, black graphite, stone, fresh-cut pine.
Palate: Blackberry, chocolate, grape skin, green pepper, tomato, vegetal, white pepper, fresh-sawn oak, structured tannins, BBQ char, smoke, soft and silky.
Finish: Cola, unripe fruit, nutty, clove, bitter oak, tannins, lean, elegant.
Gold Medal
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Rowland
Sleeping Lady Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon C2B2 2012
(Yountville, Napa Valley) $125
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with grapes harvested from a sustainably-farmed vineyard, was fermented using “wild” yeast and aged in 100% new French oak.
Aroma: Black cherry, cherry, cassis, concentrated blackberries, plum, unripe stone fruit, prunes, violet, spice, tobacco, leather, oak.
Palate: Cherry, blackberries, black currant, herbaceous, clove, white pepper, oak, strong tannins, graphite, tart, smooth, dense rich body.
Finish: Black cherry, clove, menthol, pepper, old oak, earthy, tannic, clean, well-balanced, velvety.
Gold Medal
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SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Amizetta
Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
(Napa Valley) $85
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was fermented at low temperatures and aged in oak barrels (70% new) for 20 months before bottling.
Aroma: Cherry, blackberry, black plum, blueberry, vanilla, caramel, violets, green herbs, minty, tobacco, evergreen, dusty, very light wood, oak, like a velvet curtain.
Palate: Cherry, blackberry, black plum, blueberry, juicy, candy corn, rich vanilla, leather, tart, light wet oak, tannic, smoky, lovely secondary flavors, bold.
Finish: Cherry, chocolate, raisin, big vanilla, simple syrup, almost herbal, very mild oak, smoky wood, savory.
Silver Medal
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Maze
Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
(Bottled by Glencar Wines, Napa) $83
This wine was made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested from Stagecoach Vineyard (noted for volcanic soil). Following fermentation, the wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels.
Aroma: Blackberries, cherry, blueberry, blackberry pie, vanilla, perfume, tobacco, earthy, mineral, wood, mild oak.
Palate: Ripe cherries, ripe blackberries, sweet berries, ripe stewed black fruit, jammy, chewy, juicy, honeydew, citrus, green bell pepper, milk chocolate, baking spices, mild pepper, good acid, mild oak, underlying wood, nice balance, very different.
Finish: Strawberry, blackberry, cherry jam, lemon, mild pepper, leather, tight, juicy.
Silver Medal
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ALTA Napa Valley
Oso Malo Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
(Napa Valley) $75
Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Merlot (4%), this wine was aged in French oak barrels (70% new) for 30 months following fermentation.
Aroma: Cherry, black cherry, boysenberry, light raspberry, generous fruit, cola, cinnamon, cumin, cut walnut sapling, oak, high tannin, some complexity.
Palate: Cherry, raspberry, sweet blackberry, currant, cola, cigar smoke, woody, oak, bright acidity, tannins, lean, balanced, smooth, elegant.
Finish: Cherry, cassis, sage, tannic, woody, oak, sharp acidity, smoky.
Silver Medal
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Roberts + Rogers
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon - Louer Family
(Napa Valley) $75
Following barrel fermentation, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels.
Aroma: Concentrated cherry, cherry jam, blackberry, black plums, fruit salad, gardenia, floral, tobacco, woodsy.
Palate: Blackberry, strawberry, leather, earthy, graphite, very dry oak, upfront tannins.
Finish: Plum, strawberry jam, cola, leather, tannic, oak.
Silver Medal
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