Hess 2021 Lion Tamer Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

The name Lion Tamer has become Hess Collection Winemaker Dave Guffy's nickname for Malbec because it's his tannin tamer. Guffy uses Malbec to soothe the powerful tannins of the big, bold, mountain fruit that the Hess Collection vineyards on Mt. Veeder are famous for.

Vintage 2021 delivered superb results. Spring was marked by occasional rains, which brought welcome soil saturation, and cooler temperatures, allowing fruit to mature at a steady pace. Summer helped the grapevines ripen completely and conditions continued to be almost ideal throughout August and September. The warm days and cool nights of the fall season allowed gradual sugar accumulation and longer hang times, promising fruit of the highest quality with structural beauty. With a slightly later harvest and a smaller crop yield, fruit was picked at its peak, for a small yet mighty vintage promising exceptional flavor in bottle.

95 POINTS - Wine Enthusiast 

Polished and perfumed, this elegant wine drinks easily now but has the balance and quiet concentration to help it improve for several years. Lush black cherries, black currants and blueberries fill the palate, buoyed on moderate tannins and spiced with toast, cinnamon and cedar notes from oak barrels. Blended with 8% Malbec.  

92 POINTS - James Suckling

Small amounts of malbec and petite sirah add some spices and raspberries to this 86% cabernet sauvignon. It shows the handsome black cherry intensity of cabernet and firm tannins while nicely layered. Drinkable young. Drink or hold.