2015 Spring Mountain, "Estate" Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Merchant's Pick
THE RECENT PICK
2015 Spring Mountain, "Estate" Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
You will never drink Caymus or Silver Oak again!
The wait is over. After years of limited distribution, Spring Mountain Vineyard, my all-time favorite Cabernet Sauvignon, is back in the market!
Spring Mountain's "Estate" Cabernet brings back nirvana-like memories of my first encounter fifteen years ago: sweet-salted butter atop warm onion bread and a glass of this superb Napa Valley red. (That alone was a satisfying experience.) Add a porter-house steak and creamed spinach and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else!
The First Wine I Look For On A Wine List!
Today, when at a restaurant, this is the first California Cabernet I look for on a wine list - not Caymus, not Silver Oak, not even Paul Hobbs... though Hobbs is a decent runner-up.
What I seek out is the high-mountain fruit, which yields stunning cedar notes, tobacco leaf, cassis, leather, crushed shale, and menthol, all of which integrate with the wine's chewy tannins.
Unbelievable!
There are a handful of wineries in the Spring Mountain district in Napa Valley, however, there is only one winery called Spring Mountain Vineyard. Their 2015 Cabernet is, "a beautiful example of mountain fruit." Wine Spectator
Enjoy... and remember, look for this tremendous value at your next restaurant visit.
By David Gettenberg
Summary
THE MERCHANT'S MARK
96+ / 100
The 2015 Spring Mountain "Estate" Cabernet is unbelievable! High-mountain fruit yields stunning cedar notes, tobacco leaf, cassis, leather, crushed shale, and menthol, all of which integrate with the wine's chewy tannins. We've waited years for this wine to come back to the market. This is a true California Cabernet: well rounded fruit, structured, graceful but with palpable tannins and notable yet complementary acidity that ties it all together.
WINE SPECTATOR
95 / 100
"Sports an intense and pure beam of raspberry and cassis flavors, flanked by sage, incense and black tea aromas and backed by mouthwatering licorice snap notes and a bramble-filled finish. A beautiful example of mountain fruit. "