2015 Lail "J. Daniel Cuvée" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is an inky, full-bodied, majestic Cabernet Sauvignon that should be a candidate for perfection in a decade. Black currants, the essence of blackberries, crushed rocks, gravely minerality and charcoal all emerge from this incredible, full-bodied, massive wine that’s still backward and tight. Brought up in 80% new barrels, forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades. Bravo! 98+” (12/2017)

“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 J Daniel Cuvee bursts forth with gregarious blackcurrant pastilles, black cherries and warm plum notes backed up by notions of spice cake, mocha and licorice. The full-bodied palate is powerfully fruited with opulent exotic spices accenting the black forest cake notions, framed by plush tannins and finishing with epic length. A beautifully buxom showstopper! (LPB) 98+” (10/2017)

“Bright, dark ruby. Captivating violet lift to the reticent aromas of blackberry, boysenberry and minerals. Broad-shouldered, dense and thick, with its highly concentrated flavors of black fruits, chocolate and coffee liqueur already displaying considerable incipient complexity. If anything, this wine gains in breadth on the back half, finishes with building, palate-saturating tannins and a note of crystallized dark berries while avoiding any impression of heaviness. This seriously energetic wine has it all. (15.3% alcohol; 80% new oak; the crop was down sharply everywhere, said Robin Lail, and the berries were tiny). (ST)” (03/2019)