2016 Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon West Wall
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Tasting notes
Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon West Wall offers up tons of savory/earthy suggestions of raw beef, Marmite toast, black olives and woodsmoke over a core of warm cassis and baked plum plus a touch of dried bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals provocative restraint with plenty of earth and mineral layers providing interest to the black fruits, finishing on a lingering smoky note.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon West Wall is powerful, savory and super-expressive. Scorched earth, iron, dark red plum, graphite and tobacco add layers of nuance, but more than anything else, the West Wall is a potent hillside Calistoga Cabernet built on intensity, structure and persistence. Some of the other wines in this range offer a bit more breadth, but the West Wall emphasizes linear drive over volume.
Blackberry, walnut, and black-tea aromas follow through to a full-bodied, layered and rich palate with solid, ripe tannins and a flavorful, juicy finish. Salty undertone. A little old-school, but shows some tension. Drink or hold.