Hayfork
Lewelling Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
St. Helena, Napa Valley, California, USA
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a short red rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, metals, chocolates and black pepper.
Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cola, cedar, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, leather and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Spicy and rich. Opulent and tasty.
Easy drinking right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet from the great 2016 vintage, is still young, and would be better in the next 5 to 10 years.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels (75% new) for 20 months.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$70.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a short red rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, metals, chocolates and black pepper.
Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cola, cedar, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, leather and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Spicy and rich. Opulent and tasty.
Easy drinking right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
This Single Vineyard Cabernet from the great 2016 vintage, is still young, and would be better in the next 5 to 10 years.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels (75% new) for 20 months.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$70.
Good but still very young at 8 yrs old
Good but still very young at 8 yrs old
Nov 6th, 2020
Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.
Our trip ended with a tasting of Lewelling & Hayfork, courtesy of daughter Haley at their family home in the vineyard. Although I’m not posting pics of the Lewelling cabs (2017s and didn’t have labels yet), they are impressive, and the Wight vineyard cab is flat out delicious!
The fruit here is the same as Lewelling’s wines, but there is usually a splash of petit Verdot to give more color and structure compared to the 100% Cabernets that Lewelling bottles. Dense, ripe and chewy. Very dark in the glass showing sweet smoke, blackberry compote, baking spices, and espresso aromatics. Whereas the Lewellings have a beautiful red and black cherry liqueur type profile, this is decidedly darker, but every bit as tannic and age worthy. Added notes of graphite, currant, creme de cassis and mixed berry pie at the finish.
Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.
Our trip ended with a tasting of Lewelling & Hayfork, courtesy of daughter Haley at their family home in the vineyard. Although I’m not posting pics of the Lewelling cabs (2017s and didn’t have labels yet), they are impressive, and the Wight vineyard cab is flat out delicious!
The fruit here is the same as Lewelling’s wines, but there is usually a splash of petit Verdot to give more color and structure compared to the 100% Cabernets that Lewelling bottles. Dense, ripe and chewy. Very dark in the glass showing sweet smoke, blackberry compote, baking spices, and espresso aromatics. Whereas the Lewellings have a beautiful red and black cherry liqueur type profile, this is decidedly darker, but every bit as tannic and age worthy. Added notes of graphite, currant, creme de cassis and mixed berry pie at the finish.
A few fun bottles from last Friday.
My thanks to @Mark Flesher for opening this as I have a visit lined up with Hayfork and Lewelling during my Napa trip in 3 weeks. I was surprised at how dense and chewy this was! So much to unpack here. I’d say this is fruit forward without being flabby or over the top. Aromatically there is baked mixed berry pie, dark plum, Mexican vanilla and baking spices. Large and in charge on the palate showing roasted dark fruits, dusty herbs, and chewy tannins at the finish. I think this is still evolving, but very enjoyable now.
A few fun bottles from last Friday.
My thanks to @Mark Flesher for opening this as I have a visit lined up with Hayfork and Lewelling during my Napa trip in 3 weeks. I was surprised at how dense and chewy this was! So much to unpack here. I’d say this is fruit forward without being flabby or over the top. Aromatically there is baked mixed berry pie, dark plum, Mexican vanilla and baking spices. Large and in charge on the palate showing roasted dark fruits, dusty herbs, and chewy tannins at the finish. I think this is still evolving, but very enjoyable now.
For as much ritz and glamour that is typically associated with Napa Valley, this week highlighted who the real rock stars are in their community... the farmers and firefighters. Haley Wight is the sixth generation to farm her family’s estate, the historic Lewelling Ranch in St. Helena, originally established by her great-great-great grandfather John Lewelling in 1864. She also happens to make extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon. So extraordinary, that I’m going to skip writing a note and just tell you that Robert Parker hits the nail on the head... “The wine displays gorgeous licorice, lead pencil shavings, black currants, loamy soil undertones and a touch of barrique. Dense purple, it has a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel and a stunning finish with good acidity and velvety, well-integrated tannin, alcohol and wood. This is a scrumptious, full-throttle Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 15 or so years. 96 points.”
For as much ritz and glamour that is typically associated with Napa Valley, this week highlighted who the real rock stars are in their community... the farmers and firefighters. Haley Wight is the sixth generation to farm her family’s estate, the historic Lewelling Ranch in St. Helena, originally established by her great-great-great grandfather John Lewelling in 1864. She also happens to make extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon. So extraordinary, that I’m going to skip writing a note and just tell you that Robert Parker hits the nail on the head... “The wine displays gorgeous licorice, lead pencil shavings, black currants, loamy soil undertones and a touch of barrique. Dense purple, it has a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel and a stunning finish with good acidity and velvety, well-integrated tannin, alcohol and wood. This is a scrumptious, full-throttle Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 15 or so years. 96 points.”
Oct 13th, 2017First exposure to this vineyard. Nice earthy quality and balance not over done.
First exposure to this vineyard. Nice earthy quality and balance not over done.
1 person found it helpfulAug 15th, 2015Excellent but needs 5-10 years to fully integrate.
Excellent but needs 5-10 years to fully integrate.
Jun 16th, 2016
Ok so this is a pre Thanksgiving wine and it was a great surprise from St Helena - thanks to my son Derek for bringing in!!! 2006 Hayfork!! Excellent!!
Ok so this is a pre Thanksgiving wine and it was a great surprise from St Helena - thanks to my son Derek for bringing in!!! 2006 Hayfork!! Excellent!!
Nov 26th, 2015
Great balance of fruit and acid. Oak is tightly wound through out.
Great balance of fruit and acid. Oak is tightly wound through out.
Oct 24th, 2015Full bodied with rich red and blue fruit. A touch of oak. Balanced
Full bodied with rich red and blue fruit. A touch of oak. Balanced
Apr 10th, 2015