2014 Scarecrow "M. Étain" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“Celia Welch has hit a home run again with the legendary J.J. Cohn Vineyard in Rutherford, a site that includes a block of old vines planted in 1945, which certainly must make them some of the oldest Cabernet vines in all of Napa Valley. There are 2,000 cases of the 2014 Monsieur Etain, which is a great enough Cabernet by itself. Wonderfully pure crème de cassis notes with some white flowers, lead pencil shavings and incense are followed by a deep, full-bodied wine with silky tannins, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel and a beautiful finish of 40+ seconds. This is an exquisite, dense, rich but sexy Cabernet Sauvignon. And now for the good news -- there are 2,000 cases of it. Drink it over the next 20 or more years. (RP)” (12/2016)

“The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Étain is quite the powerhouse. Dark and imposing, it offers up a heady mix of dark-toned fruit, leather, espresso, incense, scorched earth and tobacco. The 2014 is distinguished by its super-concentrated fruit and the strong oak imprint that was common back then. It has developed beautifully since I last tasted it. (AG)” (01/2025)

“An exquisite offering, deftly balanced, elegant and refined, with a crescendo of flavors that remains on point. Complex, featuring mineral and red and dark berry notes and a kiss of dusty, cedary oak. (JL)” (11/2017)