2021 HALL Exzellenz Cabernet Sauvignon
Critic Review
"...a blend taken from the best blocks at Sacrashe. It captures all the magic of this evocative, elite site, but with an added kick of textural intensity. Dark red plum, kirsch, mocha, licorice, spice and new leather are some of the many notes that build into the substantial finish."
93 Points | The Wine Advocate, Joe Czerwinski
"...Exzellenz...raises the bar, quality-wise. Rather than just being dark and rich, it's floral and perfumed, with red berries joined by hints of cedar and menthol. Full-bodied and rich yet fresh and framed by fine-grained tannins, this is a fine Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon."
93 Points | Wine Spectator, James Molesworth
"Broad, rich and well-toasted, this delivers a rolling wave of warmed cassis, steeped plum and mulled blackberry notes allied to licorice root, worn cedar and singed alder accents. A long loamy detail underscores the finish as the fruit lingers. Certainly not shy about aiming for power rather than freshness."
Our 2021 Exzellenz opens with deep, integrated, complex aromas of blackberry, graphite, and freshly turned earth. Blue and black fruit flavors dominate the palate and are accompanied by notes of dusty earth and spice. Plentiful, ripe, tannin cascades into a silky, sweet midpalate and a very decadent and voluptuous finish.
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Blackberry
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Graphite
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Blue and black fruit
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Spice
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 purity of focus and dense tannic structure.
Bottle Size | 750mL |
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Varietal Composition | 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc |
Barrel Aging | 28 Months in 75% New French Oak |
Appellation | Napa Valley |
Vineyard | 100% Sacrashe Estate Vineyard |
Vintage Notes | The alluring 2021 vintage is notable for its low yields, which resulted in an extra degree of concentration in our wines. In a second year of severe drought, the vines grew quickly in the warm spring weather while our team carefully managed irrigation block by block. By summer, the vines had set a lighter than average crop, and cooler weather in August allowed time for multiple vineyard passes to finetune the fruit load and manage the canopy. After a smooth harvest season, we are excited about the beautifully balanced, flavor-packed 2021's. |