Trefethen 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley

Trefethen Estate winery is one of the few in Napa Valley that's never bought any grapes. All of their wines are produced with grapes sourced from their estate vineyards, mostly the 61 vineyard blocks that make up their Main Ranch. The establishment of the Oak Knoll District AVA in 2004 is in large part due to Trefethen's presence there. Just south of Yountville and Stag's Leap, Oak Knoll is one of the coolest regions in the Valley. The Cabernet ripens slowly over an extended season developing complex flavors. This wine from the outstanding 2015 vintage marks their 50th anniversary as vineyard owners. Wine Enthusiast named it an Editor's Choice with 95 points saying "this is an impressive wine well worthy of the producer's 50th anniversary. Currant, boysenberry and light handfuls of spice are wrapped in soft, polished tannins that offer an elegant length.". Decanter Magazine scored this 94 points saying "Lack of rain combined with a warm summer resulted in one of the earliest harvests this estate has seen, starting September 5. Smaller grapes than usual made this a very structured, concentrated wine, with plenty of tannin, savoury and spicy flavours, alongside aromas of bay leaves. The blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, and 4% Malbec — aged for 18 months in a mix of French, American and Hungarian oak — marks a new level of quality."