2014 Lail Vineyards, J Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml)

LP97 "Lail’s 2014 J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-black color. It comes barreling out of the glass with vibrant notes of juicy blackcurrant, baked black cherries, and boysenberry preserves, leading to wafts of candied violets, dried mint, and crushed rocks, plus a hint of truffles. The full-bodied palate has compelling freshness with vibrant black cherry and ferrous-laced flavors and a firm, ripe, grainy texture, finishing long and energetic." LPB for TWI Mar 2023

RP95 "The flagship wines include the 2014 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from three sources – the family vineyard called Molehill 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. There are 1,064 cases, and it can be drunk now or cellared for another 25 years." RP Oct 2016

Robert Parker writes, "The barrel sample of the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée (100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the identical sources) exhibits beautiful, sweet tannin, loads of charcoal, a full-bodied flavor profile of blue and black fruits, softer tannins and a more open-knit, up-front appeal than the somewhat firm and more closed blockbuster 2013. In keeping with this vintage character, the wine is very showy, charming and should drink beautifully when released in a year or so, evolving gracefully for at least two decade" BT 95-97Pts
With a viticultural legacy dating back to the late 1800s and proprietress Robin Daniel Lail’s great grand-uncle Gustave Niebaum, the founder of Inglenook Vineyards, there’s a lot of history in the Lail family. The wines continue on a very strong qualitative streak, with the less expensive Blueprint wines offering moderate value. Their top cuvées, the Georgia Sauvignon Blanc and J. Daniel Cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, are world-class quality." Published: Oct 29, 2015