Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 750ml

Just spectacular in 2023, this is sleek and polished, with impressive mid-palate weight and crushed graphite notes threaded through blue-fruited nuances. The purity and brightness of the vintage shine through, supported by a firm spine of acid tension, heightened by the inclusion of fruit from the Steltzner Vineyard. Lavish toasty oak and cedarwood spices are seamlessly balanced by inky blackberry and black cherry fruit, with beautiful sagebrush accents carrying through to an everlasting finish. This is one of the finest Lail J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignons I have tasted. Sourced from four top vineyards across Napa Valley and aged for 20 months in French oak, 80% new, it stands as the flagship wine of the Lail portfolio.

Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Calistoga, Howell Mountain, Oakville, and Stags Leap District and aged 20 months in French oak barrels (80% new), the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée is deep purple-hued and offers a kaleidoscopic array of red and black fruits, scorched earth, smoke, tobacco, graphite, and sappy floral nuances. It's full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish that won't quit. Give it just a few years of bottle age and enjoy over the following three decades. Drink 2028-2055.

As has been the case for other recent vintages, Lail's 2023 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon draws largely on vineyard sources in Calistoga (Heimark), Oakville (Vine Hill Ranch) and Stags Leap (Steltzner). This vintage is dark in hue, with intense aromas of cassis and blueberries, tinged with mocha. It's medium- to full-bodied in the mouth, concentrated and rich but tightly wound, with a long, silky-tannic finish. Enjoy the more-forward 2022 while waiting for the 2023's grip to relax a bit. Rating: 98+

The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée is a dark, sumptuous beauty. Blackberry, cloves, mocha, new leather and chocolate convey notable textural and flavor intensity. Soft, supple contours lend tons of immediacy, making the 2023 relatively accessible for the year. Rating: 97+