Cosentino Winery

CE2V Secret Clone Cabernet Sauvignon

9.518 ratings
9.36 pro ratings
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
Gregg Gordon

2005 drinking great tonight

2005 drinking great tonight

Feb 19th, 2017
Nicole Hakli

Sommelier The NoMad Restaurant

9.7

Baby screaming eagle? Good surprise!

Baby screaming eagle? Good surprise!

Aug 8th, 2016
Charles Rivas

Big and brooding with enough complexity to keep me coming back.

Big and brooding with enough complexity to keep me coming back.

Apr 5th, 2015
Patty Hsu

Sales Plumpjack, Relic Wines

9.3

finally really good, this took a few years!

finally really good, this took a few years!

Nov 28th, 2014
Josh Eichorn

A perfect wine? Perhaps. Not many Napa wines can have this kind of horsepower at 19 years old (I was always told Napa wines fall apart after 15 years). I’ve never had Screaming Eagle or Grace Family or any of the new “premier cru” wines. What I will say, though, is that I have a hard time imagining a wine being better than this. Plush, with a solid core. Very little fade. Let it breathe, but it was drinkable right out of the bottle, rich with refined tannins, so much fruit, so much pleasure. The oak is now seamless with the wine, not an addition, but a part of it. If you had told me this was a more recent vintage, I would have believed you. This was Cosentino’s top of the line and what a top it was. Age has allowed for more complexity (I did taste this when it was newly bottled) and development, but this is a young wine, still. Nothing out of place. It is one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted. Quintessential Napa, the best the valley has to offer. I forget the story of “the secret clone” but knowing what all the steps are in making great wine, having this clone was just one of the many right choices in making this. This one may outlive me. It is in its prime with no end in sight. Perfect? I’m not sure. But I’ve not had better.

A perfect wine? Perhaps. Not many Napa wines can have this kind of horsepower at 19 years old (I was always told Napa wines fall apart after 15 years). I’ve never had Screaming Eagle or Grace Family or any of the new “premier cru” wines. What I will say, though, is that I have a hard time imagining a wine being better than this. Plush, with a solid core. Very little fade. Let it breathe, but it was drinkable right out of the bottle, rich with refined tannins, so much fruit, so much pleasure. The oak is now seamless with the wine, not an addition, but a part of it. If you had told me this was a more recent vintage, I would have believed you. This was Cosentino’s top of the line and what a top it was. Age has allowed for more complexity (I did taste this when it was newly bottled) and development, but this is a young wine, still. Nothing out of place. It is one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted. Quintessential Napa, the best the valley has to offer. I forget the story of “the secret clone” but knowing what all the steps are in making great wine, having this clone was just one of the many right choices in making this. This one may outlive me. It is in its prime with no end in sight. Perfect? I’m not sure. But I’ve not had better.

Apr 15th, 2024
Mark Mannebach

2005 vintage still great. Still some plum with tobacco, chocolate & lead notes. Very smooth and tannins are soft.

2005 vintage still great. Still some plum with tobacco, chocolate & lead notes. Very smooth and tannins are soft.

Nov 12th, 2023
Joe DAscoli

First bottle of the night. Strong start with friends who joined when we first visited this winery

First bottle of the night. Strong start with friends who joined when we first visited this winery

Dec 24th, 2016
Dave Grijalva

Amazing

Amazing

Sep 15th, 2014
Erin Celello

Probably the best bottle of wine I've ever had. Perfect in every way.

Probably the best bottle of wine I've ever had. Perfect in every way.

May 10th, 2014
Jenny Reese

Bought on Napa Valley visit, October 2010

Bought on Napa Valley visit, October 2010

Jan 6th, 2013