2013 Vine Hill Ranch, VHR Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Magnum (1.5L)

AG98 "The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is just as magical as it has always been. In several recent tastings, the 2013 has started to show its first signs of aromatic development. Black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, spice, mocha, espresso and grilled herbs are all dialed up in a decidedly dense, ripe and flamboyant wine for this estate, with big tannins that are starting to resolve. This shows just how much the style has evolved here in less than a decade. Today's wines are more refined, but in that context, the 2013 comes across as somewhat bombastic, with a strong new oak imprint that is impossible to miss." AG for VM May 2024

Robert Parker writes, "Vine Hill Ranch has a brilliant team working on the vineyard, with Mike Wolf as their viticultural manager, and former Araujo winemaker and co-owner of the small boutique label Drinkward Peschon, Françoise Peschon, as their winemaker. These are the best wines I have ever tasted from this relatively large, 70-acre vineyard in Oakville. Both vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 75% new French oak for 20 or so months." Published: Dec 30, 2015