2016 HALL Exzellenz Cabernet Sauvignon
Critic Review
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Exzellenz leaps from the glass with exuberant black cherry compote, blackberry pie and cassis notions with hints of preserved plums, spice cake, tobacco and bay leaves. Full-bodied with a solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, it delivers a muscular mid-palate and long, savory finish."
98 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni
"The 2016 Cabernet Exzellenz, from Hall's Sacrashe vineyard, captures all the beauty of this rugged hillside site in Rutherford. Sweet floral, licorice, mint and bright red fruit give the 2016 striking inner perfume to play off the naturally rich expression that seems to come so naturally here."
97 Points | Owen Bargreen
"...Simply gorgeous in this vintage, this immediately unveils wonderful aromatics of crushed mint and black tea that mingle with crème de cassis, Turkish coffee and blueberry compote which all come together in the glass. The silky texture is remarkable, as soft tannins beautifully frame the flavors...and linger beautifully on the long finish...this sensational Cabernet should evolve gracefully over time and offer a drinking window that could span decades long."
Deep ruby, this powerful wine has superb intensity on the nose of ripe blackberry and black plum as well as sweet oak, anise and Chinese five spice. Bold and concentrated on the palate, Exzellenz embodies the essence of Napa Valley Cabernet with ripe dark fruit, delineated tannic structure and spectacular acidity to support this wine’s longevity.
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Ripe Blackberry
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Black Plum
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Sweet Oak
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Anise
The goal here is dark black fruit, power, chewy tannin, and a focused palate. Our Sacrashe estate vineyard is hidden atop the eastern ridge of the Vaca mountain range in Rutherford. With extremely limiting volcanic tuff soils and gentle sloping aspects, this vineyard yields fruit that is always rich, dense, earthy, and opulent. It possesses a pronounced power.
Bottle Size | 750mL |
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Varietal Composition | 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc |
Barrel Aging | 26 months in 95% New French Oak |
Appellation | Napa Valley |
Vineyard | Sacrashe & Vineyard Partners |
Vintage Notes | The 2016 vintage marked the end of the drought years, although precipitation levels were still moderate to low. Near-perfect growing conditions continued throughout the summer with a few heat spikes that the valley is known for. Yields were a bit lower than normal, but the quality of the harvest was high. The resulting wines are rich and lush, with supple tannins and opulent, elegant finishes. Wines from 2016 are a fifth consecutive vintage of stellar Napa Valley wines. |