Eisele Vineyard - Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. Its nose begins a little reserved, slowly revealing a quiet intensity of freshly crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, cassis and aniseed with compelling nuances of black tea, cigar box, truffles and charcuterie, plus, with coaxing, gentle wafts of red roses and crushed rocks emerge. The medium to full-bodied palate is simply arresting, offering a a myriad floral and earth sparks amidst a black fruit core and with seamless, firm, very fine-grained tannins. Well-knit freshness brings forth layer after layer of delicate nuances on the very long, mineral-laced finish. The team at Eisele, led by Frédéric Engerer (of Chateau Latour) and beautifully orchestrated by winemaker Hélène Mingot, have knocked it out of the park this vintage with this singular expression that both embraces the site's heritage and reveals parts unknown."

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: "The 2016 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. It needs a lot of swirling to uncover the myriad of black and blue fruit layers - youthful, juicy blackberries, black currants, and plums - followed by suggestions of candied violets, dark chocolate, tilled soil, forest floor, and tapenade. The full-bodied palate is jam-packed with black berry flavors and an incredible array of earth, spice, and floral nuances, supported by very firm, grainy tannins and lovely tension, finishing long, long, long. Wow!"

James Suckling: "The aromas are so complex here with blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and orange peel. Juicy and deep with a polished and lush texture. Full-bodied yet supple and harmonious. Poised and extremely long. You really want to drink this now, but be patient. Try after 2024."

Decanter: "This is 100% Cabernet, from an excellent vintage and it's a total hit. Extremely young and closed, concentrated cassis, coffee beans and tobacco, pure and beautifully balanced with long drawn out tannins. It just slowly crawls through your mouth, taking its time and as confident as you like. A juicy, delicious Cab - great stuff from winemaker Hélène Mingot"

The Wine Cellar Insider: "The best wine in modern times for the legendary Eisele Vineyard, this hits the mark the moment you initially sense it in your glass. The nose grabs you with its leafy, floral, tobacco, spice and fruit filled character. Rich and sensuous, the wine has polish and volume coupled with freshness and purity of fruit. This is a fabulous style and expression of California Cabernet Sauvignon that will provide pleasure for at least 25 years or more."

Jancis Robinson: "Floral notes of violets and roses and even a hint of grapefruit blossom lift from the glass carrying depth and complexity in the aromas. The wine feels luxurious, with succulent and persistent tannins and a satisfying balance of acidity. The complexity here is impressive, the flavours ranging from floral to savoury, fruit to earth, graphite and resinous herbs, and the wine balances flesh with structure. An impressive wine from a good vintage."

Wine Spectator: " Ripe, broad and fleshy, this lets beautiful plum sauce and blackberry compote notes drape effortlessly over a tobacco- and loam-accented spine. The loamy edge drives through the finish with authority, while the fruit keeps cascading over it, ending very long and very deep. This has a beguiling aspect despite the enormous scale, but it should benefit from cellaring. A wine of the earth, through and through. Best from 2021 through 2035. 1,825 cases made."