D.R. Stephens

Premiere Napa Valley IX Lot No. 045 Moose Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

9.711 ratings
9.75 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
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

As perfect as a glass of well made & well aged Napa Cabernet gets. Heavenly palate harmony.

What a Christmas late night wine snuggle under the candle tree with Sofia.

A bottle/glass you wish would never end.

One of the very best Christmas Eve’s in memory.

Merry Christmas!!! 🎄🎁🎅⛄️🌟❄️

Only 60 bottles made. I bought 33% of them.
@Shay A ended up with two & @Paul T- Huntington Beach had 2 or 3 of them.

Never had a better Napa Cabernet for $89 or much more.

I misspoke a few weeks ago. This is the best Napa Cabernet I’ve had this year.

As perfect as a glass of well made & well aged Napa Cabernet gets. Heavenly palate harmony.

What a Christmas late night wine snuggle under the candle tree with Sofia.

A bottle/glass you wish would never end.

One of the very best Christmas Eve’s in memory.

Merry Christmas!!! 🎄🎁🎅⛄️🌟❄️

Only 60 bottles made. I bought 33% of them.
@Shay A ended up with two & @Paul T- Huntington Beach had 2 or 3 of them.

Never had a better Napa Cabernet for $89 or much more.

I misspoke a few weeks ago. This is the best Napa Cabernet I’ve had this year.

Dec 25th, 2020
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

After dinner...dessert! Stunning bottle of Napa Cabernet!!!

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🤶🎁❄️⛄️ 🦌

After dinner...dessert! Stunning bottle of Napa Cabernet!!!

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🤶🎁❄️⛄️ 🦌

Dec 25th, 2019
Shay A
9.6

Lots of bottles popped for Weston’s 40th! Only posting a few of my highlights! This was one of my contributions.

This is an example of a wine that is at the peak of its power. Total balance and unbelievable beauty. Hard to believe it is 16yrs old.

Jumps from the glass showing mulberries, baked black cherries, plum, herbs de Provence, hint of smoked meat and cherry-vanilla pipe tobacco. The palate shows a rich yet restrained wine with licorice, leather, muddled red and black fruits, espresso, cocoa dusted dates and cherry smoked wood. Integrated finish that is gorgeous and smooth. So complex. A stunner. Can be enjoyed at pop and pour but I re-corked and had the second half about 3hrs later and it was truly marvelous.

This could possibly improve a point or two over the next 1-3yrs. My thanks to
@David T for introducing this to me and helping me get a bottle. Superb.

Lots of bottles popped for Weston’s 40th! Only posting a few of my highlights! This was one of my contributions.

This is an example of a wine that is at the peak of its power. Total balance and unbelievable beauty. Hard to believe it is 16yrs old.

Jumps from the glass showing mulberries, baked black cherries, plum, herbs de Provence, hint of smoked meat and cherry-vanilla pipe tobacco. The palate shows a rich yet restrained wine with licorice, leather, muddled red and black fruits, espresso, cocoa dusted dates and cherry smoked wood. Integrated finish that is gorgeous and smooth. So complex. A stunner. Can be enjoyed at pop and pour but I re-corked and had the second half about 3hrs later and it was truly marvelous.

This could possibly improve a point or two over the next 1-3yrs. My thanks to
@David T for introducing this to me and helping me get a bottle. Superb.

Dec 14th, 2019
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.9

I am going to post this again. I will only say that my previous notes all still apply but, I under scored this wine 2-3 weeks ago.

I find this to very similar to the 08 and 09 Promontory I posted in January. It’s closer in style to the 08. However, if you wanted to buy a bottle of the 08 Promontory today, it would cost you $1300. The wine was $89.99 a bottle. Given this wines quality and price point, it was a very easy decision to purchase a full case of this DR Stephens over a single bottle of 08 Promontory. I’m just glad there was still enough to acquire a case of it.

Not only is it one of the best Napa Cabernet I’ve had ever, it the best Napa Cabernet value I have ever purchased.

This wine is simply amazing on the palate and turns your head inside out over and over.

I am going to post this again. I will only say that my previous notes all still apply but, I under scored this wine 2-3 weeks ago.

I find this to very similar to the 08 and 09 Promontory I posted in January. It’s closer in style to the 08. However, if you wanted to buy a bottle of the 08 Promontory today, it would cost you $1300. The wine was $89.99 a bottle. Given this wines quality and price point, it was a very easy decision to purchase a full case of this DR Stephens over a single bottle of 08 Promontory. I’m just glad there was still enough to acquire a case of it.

Not only is it one of the best Napa Cabernet I’ve had ever, it the best Napa Cabernet value I have ever purchased.

This wine is simply amazing on the palate and turns your head inside out over and over.

Mar 11th, 2019
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This is the 2003 D.R. Stephens Premiere Valley IX Lot No. 045 Moose Valley Vineyard. Bottle number 23 of 60.

I picked it up yesterday in honor of Premiere Napa Valley happening this week. If you have never heard of this event, it’s a gathering of Napa producers, industry professionals and re-sellers bidding on lots of wine. Many of these lots are special bottling’s of a producers best barrel etc. Quite an event of; tasting, bidding and a little partying.

If you haven’t tried D.R. Stephens wines, I suggest you give them a strong consideration in acquiring. However, these wines are made to cellar. While you can drink them young, if you do, you will sell yourself short of the harmony and bliss they will give you properly aged and enjoyed at their peak. As delicious as this bottle is tonight, it hasn’t achieved its peak.

The nose reveals; beautiful, ripe, candied and floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, baked strawberries and stewed blueberries & raspberries. Black licorice, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, berry cola, warm spices, caramel, mocha, some black pepper, dry top soil, dry crushed limestone minerals, leather, graphite, notes of Provence herbs, bay leaf, dark rich turned earth with fresh red flowers, violets and lavender.

The body is rich and full. The tannin's still quite big but, well rounded. The structure and tension are about 60% up the top of bell curve. The length & balance are beautiful and will hit their peak in 7-8 more years. Gorgeous wine! Ripe, candied and floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, baked strawberries and stewed blueberries & raspberries. Black licorice, steeped tea, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, berry cola, warm spices, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, some black pepper, dry top soil, dry crushed limestone minerals, dry clay, leather, graphite, notes of Provence herbs, bay leaf, dark rich turned earth with fresh red flowers, violets and lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long, elegant, gorgeously rich, we’ll balance finish is amazing and is everything you look for in a quality Napa Cabernet and then some.

Photos of; an auction shot from a past Napa Valley Premiere auction, tasting & dining area on the Estate (2nd home for owners - Don & Trish Stephens), another property shot complete with pond and shot of the Estate as you walk into beautiful property.

Thanks to @Jason and Jennie for exposing me to D.R. Stephens.

This is the 2003 D.R. Stephens Premiere Valley IX Lot No. 045 Moose Valley Vineyard. Bottle number 23 of 60.

I picked it up yesterday in honor of Premiere Napa Valley happening this week. If you have never heard of this event, it’s a gathering of Napa producers, industry professionals and re-sellers bidding on lots of wine. Many of these lots are special bottling’s of a producers best barrel etc. Quite an event of; tasting, bidding and a little partying.

If you haven’t tried D.R. Stephens wines, I suggest you give them a strong consideration in acquiring. However, these wines are made to cellar. While you can drink them young, if you do, you will sell yourself short of the harmony and bliss they will give you properly aged and enjoyed at their peak. As delicious as this bottle is tonight, it hasn’t achieved its peak.

The nose reveals; beautiful, ripe, candied and floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, baked strawberries and stewed blueberries & raspberries. Black licorice, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, berry cola, warm spices, caramel, mocha, some black pepper, dry top soil, dry crushed limestone minerals, leather, graphite, notes of Provence herbs, bay leaf, dark rich turned earth with fresh red flowers, violets and lavender.

The body is rich and full. The tannin's still quite big but, well rounded. The structure and tension are about 60% up the top of bell curve. The length & balance are beautiful and will hit their peak in 7-8 more years. Gorgeous wine! Ripe, candied and floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, baked strawberries and stewed blueberries & raspberries. Black licorice, steeped tea, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, berry cola, warm spices, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, some black pepper, dry top soil, dry crushed limestone minerals, dry clay, leather, graphite, notes of Provence herbs, bay leaf, dark rich turned earth with fresh red flowers, violets and lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long, elegant, gorgeously rich, we’ll balance finish is amazing and is everything you look for in a quality Napa Cabernet and then some.

Photos of; an auction shot from a past Napa Valley Premiere auction, tasting & dining area on the Estate (2nd home for owners - Don & Trish Stephens), another property shot complete with pond and shot of the Estate as you walk into beautiful property.

Thanks to @Jason and Jennie for exposing me to D.R. Stephens.

Feb 23rd, 2019
Paul T HB

Bottle 51 of 60,
This one was back on par compared to my last bottle,
Thanks
@David T, never would of bought the few bottles I found on K&L if I didn’t see your post.
Liquid velvet

Bottle 51 of 60,
This one was back on par compared to my last bottle,
Thanks
@David T, never would of bought the few bottles I found on K&L if I didn’t see your post.
Liquid velvet

Mar 28th, 2020
Paul T HB

Bottle 59 of 60.
This one didn’t have the stuffing my last ones had. Slight sour taste on the finish

Bottle 59 of 60.
This one didn’t have the stuffing my last ones had. Slight sour taste on the finish

Feb 10th, 2020
Paul T HB

Bottle # 14 of 60, should of bought more when it was available,@David T recommended this. Happy to have had the 2 bottles I did buy

Bottle # 14 of 60, should of bought more when it was available,@David T recommended this. Happy to have had the 2 bottles I did buy

Nov 8th, 2019
Paul T HB

Great steak wine,
Bottle # 22

Great steak wine,
Bottle # 22

May 19th, 2019
Paul T HB

Another great recommendation from @David T

Another great recommendation from @David T

Mar 12th, 2019