Lail Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, J. Daniel Cuvee, Napa Valley

Robin Daniel Lail grew up among the vineyards of Inglenook, founded in 1879 by her great-granduncle, Gustave Niebaum, who pioneered fine winemaking in the Napa Valley. Inglenook was passed down to Robin’s grandfather and then to her father, John Daniel Jr., a true innovator (he was the first to put ‘Napa Valley’ on his labels, and pioneered varietal labeling) and wine industry leader who produced legendary wines. Robin launched her vintner career as Robert Mondavi’s personal assistant, who became her mentor in the wine business. In 1982 Robin co-founded Dominus with Christian Moueix, and in 1983 co-founded Merryvale Vineyards with Bill Harlan, where she served as president for twelve years.

In the mid-nineties, Robin sold out of her partnerships with a vision of bringing her family’s exciting legacy into the 21st Century. Her dream of creating her own extraordinary wines set flight in 1995 when she and her two daughters, Erin and Shannon, set out on their own by launching Lail Vineyards. Today, with legendary Consultant Pilippe Melka overseeing all of the winemaking, the venture carries forth over 135 years of winemaking in the Napa Valley.

This 2014 J. Daniel Cuvée is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown on extraordinary and distinct Napa Valley sites. This multi-vineyards cuvée is assembled over its 20 months of aging in barrels. This flagship bottling is named in honor of founder Robin Lail's father, John Daniel, Jr., a true innovator who produced legendary wines.

Robert Parker scored this 95 points and said "The 2014 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon comes from three sources – the family vineyard called Mole Hill at a 1700-feet elevation on Howell Mountain, the Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard and Heimark Vineyard in Calistoga. A gorgeous 2014, with notes of graphite, mulberry and blackcurrant, this full-bodied, opaque purple wine offers terrific fruit purity, sweet tannin, and a long finish of a good 45+ seconds. It was aged 19 months in 75% new French oak and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon."

and Antonio Galloni scored it 95 as well saying "The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon John Daniel Cuvée turned out beautifully. In fact, it is even better from bottle than it was from barrel. Deep, unctuous and powerful, but with good freshness, the 2014 hits all the right notes. Specifically, the 2014 offers tons of richness, but without the heaviness or raisinated character that has defined some previous years."

and Connisseurs Guide scored it 97 saying "Cabernet collectors take note! Here is an incredibly deep and exceptionally structured rendition that more than deserves the much-overused term “classic,” and its marvelous combination of stamina, strength, layering and precise, terrifically sustained varietal fruit is one that is rarely equaled let alone surpassed. As great wines will inevitably do, it reveals a bit more of itself with each sniff and sip, and, even though it shows an unexpected sense of polish and manages to avoid the pronounced tannic harshness of youth, this is one that is some time away from living up to its certain promise. It is not inexpensive, but it makes good on the boast that its price tag poses.”