2016 Dana Estates, Helms Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Bottle (750ml)

AG98 "A truly sensational wine, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard is just breathtaking. Fresh, vibrant and towering in its beauty, the 2016 possesses off-the-charts aromatic intensity, fruit vibrancy and total harmony. Sweet floral and spice notes add freshness to this plush, deeply resonant Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. The move to pick just a bit earlier has paid off big-time in bringing out the purity of the red-toned fruit. The 2016 is simply magnificent. Wow." AG for VM Jan 2020

RP97 "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard was fermented 40% in barrels and 60% in oak tanks and spent 35 days on the skins. It aged for 20 months in French oak barrels and has a deep garnet-purple color. Wow—it comes charging out of the glass with beautifully bullish black cherries, crème de cassis, blackberry pie and raspberry preserves notes followed by hints of cigar box, Indian spices and licorice with a waft of dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with expressive black berry preserves, framed by soft, velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and multilayered." LPB for TWA Sep 2019

JD97 "First produced in 2005, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard screams “Cabernet Sauvignon” with its remarkable cassis, tobacco, flowery incense, lead pencil, and coffee bean aromas and flavors. It's another seamless, plush, incredibly sexy wine from this estate that has plenty of fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It's a magical, elegant, complex wine." JD Jan 2020

Lisa Perrotti-Brown for RobertPaker.com writes, "A very impressive revival of this historical estate in Rutherford (formally the Livingston-Moffett Estate), under the diligent consultancy of Philippe Melka, Dana Estates is producing polished and expressive superstar wines from three wonderfully diverse vineyards. Helms Vineyard consists of five acres on gravelly loam, right on the northern edge of the Rutherford bench, planted in 1997 and 1998. Hershey Vineyard on Howell Mountain is 26 acres in total, 18 of which were planted in 2008. It is planted to just about all aspects imaginable, so it’s quite a varied site, although the Dana Hershey label comes mainly from just four blocks. Lotus Vineyard is just below Howell Mountain, not high enough to make that AVA. A very steep vineyard, 100% hand farmed, Lotus is by far the warmest site for this estate. Onda is a blend of all the vineyards, including their fourth Crystal Springs vineyard, which does not produce a single vineyard wine." Published: Dec 29, 2017