Macdonald

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

9.6292 ratings
9.683 pro ratings
Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
Tom Kobylarz

Old vine 100% Cabernet does not get any better than this! Gorgeous front to back, this needs a day to get into the zone per Graeme so be patient and oown the day before if a younger vintage. This is liquid purity and perfection.

Old vine 100% Cabernet does not get any better than this! Gorgeous front to back, this needs a day to get into the zone per Graeme so be patient and oown the day before if a younger vintage. This is liquid purity and perfection.

Nov 13th, 2022
Andrew S

If this isn’t perfect, I don’t know what is. What is most striking to me is the balance of the wine. It is big, and complex and flavorful in many ways. But it brings an embrace of elegance and touch beyond. cherries, medium dark fruits, dust, graphite, hints of spice. Tannins are fine grained. Wonderful acidity and lengthy finish. Just such a nice package- every time I went to smell it or taste it, there was another nuance and layer to consider. Decanted about 5 hrs, and was doing well at that point. Drank with Flannery strips for the holiday.

If this isn’t perfect, I don’t know what is. What is most striking to me is the balance of the wine. It is big, and complex and flavorful in many ways. But it brings an embrace of elegance and touch beyond. cherries, medium dark fruits, dust, graphite, hints of spice. Tannins are fine grained. Wonderful acidity and lengthy finish. Just such a nice package- every time I went to smell it or taste it, there was another nuance and layer to consider. Decanted about 5 hrs, and was doing well at that point. Drank with Flannery strips for the holiday.

Dec 26th, 2021
Rob Brobst III

12 hour decant recommendation.

12 hour decant recommendation.

Nov 4th, 2021
Mike R
9.7

Delectable is messing with me so gave to repost -no need to like but I want it recorded - sorry everyone

Delectable is messing with me so gave to repost -no need to like but I want it recorded - sorry everyone

Oct 22nd, 2021
Rob Brobst III

@Mike R sitting at the same table… Alex was awesome and his wine is too! Great winery to visit.

@Mike R sitting at the same table… Alex was awesome and his wine is too! Great winery to visit.

Oct 22nd, 2021
James Forsyth

Plush with dark purple fruit. Soft velvet texture. Going through a tight phase but still enormously enjoyable. 2012 MacDonald is a treat.

Plush with dark purple fruit. Soft velvet texture. Going through a tight phase but still enormously enjoyable. 2012 MacDonald is a treat.

Jul 3rd, 2020
Andrew S

Fantastic depth, complexity and balance. Just kept evolving all night after a 5 hour decant. Several tasting notes are out there. Vinous (Galloni) note is right on. The predominant fruit has a nice cherry core, with all kinds of flavors riffing off of it. It’s best years are still ahead.

Fantastic depth, complexity and balance. Just kept evolving all night after a 5 hour decant. Several tasting notes are out there. Vinous (Galloni) note is right on. The predominant fruit has a nice cherry core, with all kinds of flavors riffing off of it. It’s best years are still ahead.

May 24th, 2020
Fraser McKinley

This was part of a very enjoyable and educational visit with Graeme a couple of weeks back. We tasted the ‘17 from half bottle and it showed impeccable purity and lovely concentration all poised neatly within its classical styling. There is superb complexity too, no doubt leached from the complex soils they’re working with. Cool vineyard and delicious wine - 2017

This was part of a very enjoyable and educational visit with Graeme a couple of weeks back. We tasted the ‘17 from half bottle and it showed impeccable purity and lovely concentration all poised neatly within its classical styling. There is superb complexity too, no doubt leached from the complex soils they’re working with. Cool vineyard and delicious wine - 2017

Jul 26th, 2019
Shay A
9.7

Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.

My other Co-WOTN. For me, these wines are up there with the best in Napa. The history, the people and the wines are just top shelf. Loved our visit here earlier this year. Having had the ‘13, ‘14 and ‘16, this seems to be the most accessible and certainly more so than the ‘13. This was powerful the entire evening and the fruit stayed ripe and sweet covering the red, blue and black spectrum. Graphite, dark chocolate up front, but it did turn more elegant at the finish showing potpourri and baking spices. Sheer To Kalon power.

Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.

My other Co-WOTN. For me, these wines are up there with the best in Napa. The history, the people and the wines are just top shelf. Loved our visit here earlier this year. Having had the ‘13, ‘14 and ‘16, this seems to be the most accessible and certainly more so than the ‘13. This was powerful the entire evening and the fruit stayed ripe and sweet covering the red, blue and black spectrum. Graphite, dark chocolate up front, but it did turn more elegant at the finish showing potpourri and baking spices. Sheer To Kalon power.

Jun 22nd, 2019
Henrik Poulsen

Sampled 4/29/2019 at “Taste of Oakville”

Sampled 4/29/2019 at “Taste of Oakville”

May 12th, 2019