2013-2014 Rivers-Marie "Corona Vineyard" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical

“The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard has also turned out beautifully, which is indeed saying something, as Corona is a site that does not perform consistently from year to year. Dark cherry jam, graphite, blueberry compote, tobacco and sweet French oak blossom in a powerful, radiant Cabernet endowed with real breadth and volume. I suspect the Corona will drink well earlier than some of the other wines in this range, specifically the Calistoga and Lore Cabernets. This is one of the very best Coronas I can remember tasting at Rivers-Marie. (AG)” (10/2015)

“Coming from a steep hillside vineyard in the western Oakville hills, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard is a backward, almost first-growth Pauillac style of wine, with notes of lead pencil, licorice, wet stones, cedar wood and fruitcake. Fine-grained tannins are significant, giving the wine considerable grip and earthiness. This is a big, backstrapping, broodingly primordial style of wine that clearly will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. (RP) 95+” (10/2015)

“Smooth and rich upon entry, but quickly firms up, with earth- and mineral-laced tannins imparting backbone and definition, letting the supple plum, cherry and licorice flavors flow. (JL)” (11/2016)

“The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard comes from the western Oakville hillside that was once an old gravel quarry. Blue/purple with notes of earth, crushed rock, blueberry and blackberry fruit, this is a relatively tannic, backward style compared to the other Cabernets with plenty of minerality, a muscular structure, full-bodied mouthfeel and loads of blue, red and black fruits. This is impressive and potentially fabulous with a great upside, but needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for up to 30 years. (RP) 96+” (10/2016)

“The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard is super-expressive. A brooding, intense wine, the 2014 Corona exudes intensity. Beams of underlying tannin extended the finish nicely. Dark stone fruit, spice, leather and mocha build into the super-expressive finish. This is the last vintage of the Corona Cabernet for Rivers-Marie. (AG)” (12/2016)

“Well-centered on a core of supple dusty cherry and plum flavors, with fresh earth and dried herb notes amid the cedary tannins. Gains muscle and depth on the finish. (JL)” (11/2017)