Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Vintage

94 Points JEB DUNNUCK

"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rancho Pequeno Vineyard is fabulous stuff, and it will certainly make it into the list of top Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon under $100. Cassis, tobacco leaf, toasted spices, and assorted herbal notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, pure, precise, finesse-driven 2019 that's already hard to resist. It will shine over the coming 15+ years."

2019 Vintage

93 Points JEB DUNNUCK

"The appellation 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a big winner and another remarkable achievement from Keith Emerson. It's another finesse-driven effort offering beautiful red and black fruits as well as floral, dusty earth, and spicy nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with silky tannins and a great mouthfeel, I finished my notes with 'crazy good at the price.' It will keep for a solid decade, although there's no need to delay gratification."

2018 Vintage

93 Points ANTONIO GALLONI, VINOUS

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rancho Pequeño Vineyard is elegant, polished and so nuanced. This is the most refined vintage of the Rancho Pequeño I have tasted. The 2018 has an extra degree of delineation that is so appealing. Bright acids and tons of pure vibrancy give this classy, midweight Cabernet so much character."

2018 Vintage

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is absolutely gorgeous. Ripe, plummy and inviting, the 2018 offers plenty of punch at a modest price. Red cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco, spice and dried flowers are front and center. Best of all, the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate. It is immensely appealing, even in the early going.

The 2018 Cabernets are some of the finest wines I have tasted from Emerson Brown. I see a bit more depth, creaminess and character than in the past. The Napa Valley Cabernet is especially fine in 2018, and it's a great value too."

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rancho Pequeño Vineyard is another winner. Coming from Oakville and all Cabernet, aged in 60% new French oak, it has pretty blue fruits, spring flower, and resinous herb notes as well as medium to full body, silky tannins, notable elegance, and balance. It’s a terrific wine to enjoy over the coming 15+ years."

"Checking in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Malbec, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a nicely textured, fruit-forward 2018 that represent a good value, offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of earth red and black fruits, tobacco, and cedar. It’s well worth seeking out and will cruise for a decade in cold cellars."

"Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Malbec, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley was aged for 18 months in oak, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs from the glass with ripe black cherries, cassis and boysenberries scents plus hints of dark chocolate, potpourri and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with savory-laced black fruits, framed by grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing on a minty note. 860 cases were made."

2017 Vintage

"More expensive, the 250-case 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is more structured and age-worthy than the Napa Valley release, offering medium to full body, notable tannins and acidity, and beautiful blue fruits, violets, and charcoal notes. Aged 18 months in 40% new French oak, it will most likely surpass the Napa Valley release in 3-4 years and evolve for over a decade."

2017 Vintage

"Readers looking for a smoking value in 2017 Cabernet should check out the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley from Emerson Brown. It has textbook Napa chocolatey fruit, herbes de Provence, and spice aromatics as well as medium to full body, ripe sweet tannins, and terrific balance. It’s ideal for drinking over the coming decade."

"The Oakville fruit for this vineyard-designate label has been continually sourced from Rancho Pequeño, formerly III Michaels Estate. The vineyard was purchased in 2013 by Bart and Daphne Araujo, who have agreed to continue selling fruit to Emerson Brown. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville was aged in French oak, 60% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose starts a little sluggish with subtle scents of mocha, tilled earth, crème de cassis, smoked meats and sautéed herbs giving way to notions of unsmoked cigars and spice box. Full-bodied, the taut, muscular fruit has a sturdy frame of rugged tannins with some lovely mineral sparks and a firm finish. 250 cases were made."

"Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley was sourced from sites Emerson Brown has worked with for a number of years, coming primarily from bench and valley floor vineyard blocks located in Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. It was aged in French oak, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, notes of baked black cherries, preserved blackberries and warm cassis come bounding out of the glass with touches of camphor, forest floor and Provence herbs. Full-bodied, the palate has a solid, grainy-textured foundation with bags of freshness and loads of earthy accents complimenting the baked black fruit flavors, finishing on a minty note. 800 cases were made."

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Rancho Pequeño is racy and voluptuous, with all of the richness that is typical of Oakville. Dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol and sweet tobacco all flesh out in this racy, opulent Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, exuberant and inviting with fine, chalky tannins, the 2017 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is such a pretty wine."

2016 Vintage

"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon III Michaels Estate is a step up yet has a similar level of purity and elegance. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 60% new French oak, this beautiful wine sports a saturated purple color as well as notes of blueberries, toasted spices, dried violets, and hints of savory earth. With medium to full body, subtle background oak, and silky tannins, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15+ years."

2016 Vintage

"These wines are made by Keith Emerson at the Vineyard 29 winemaking facility. Looking first at the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, this beauty is 100% varietal and was brought up in 40% new French oak. It offers a classic feel in its cassis and candied cherry fruits and has complex floral and fruitcake notes, medium to full body, and considerable elegance and purity as well as silky tannins. Its subtle, understated style grows on you with time in the glass, and it’s ideal for drinking over the coming 10-15 years."

"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is powerful, deep and voluptuous. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate, spice and espresso meld together in this creamy, expansive Oakville Cabernet. Layered and expressive the 2016 will drink well with minimal cellaring. The oak, sometimes an issue with this bottling, is impeccably balanced in 2016. Keith Emerson makes this wine from Bart and Daphne Araujo's Rancho Pequeño vineyard."

"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is soft, open-knit and delicious, all of which will make it easy to drink and enjoy with minimal cellaring. Dark cherry, chocolate, spice and floral notes all meld together. Emerson Brown's Napa Valley Cabernet is often a terrific value, as it is once again in 2016. There is so much to like here."

2015 Vintage

"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon III Michaels Estate is a dark, sensual wine with all of the creaminess and texture that is such a signature of Cabernets from Oakville. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate build as this voluptuous Cabernet shows off its personality. The 2015 packs a serious punch. Drink it over the next decade or so."

2015 Vintage

"Emerson Brown's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is plump, juicy and supple, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Sweet red cherry, plum, spice and new leather are all pushed forward in this racy, fruity, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon."

 
"Cut from the same cloth (although this cuvee saw 60% new barrels), the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is bigger and richer, with slightly more oak, charcoal, chocolate and licorice aromas and flavors. It's a big, rich, unctuous beauty that packs serious fruit and texture, yet holds everything together and is beautifully balanced, savory, and classically styled on the finish. It too has 15+ years of longevity ahead of it."

 
"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from multiple sites in the Valley and was brought up in 40% new French oak. It offers a seriously ripe, hedonistic style to go with classic currant, licorice, toasty oak and chocolate aromas and flavors. This beauty fills the mouth with fruit, has no hard edges, sweet tannin and carries its fruit and richness with class. It should keep for 10-15 years, and at 50 bucks, is smokin' good."

2014 Vintage

2014 Vintage

2013 Vintage

2013 Vintage