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2023 Memento Mori "The Flagship" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2023 Memento Mori "The Flagship" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

100DC
99JD
$329.99

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100

Decanter

Reviewed March 2026
Blending is an art, and Sam Kaplan demonstrates his mastery with this exceptional wine, assembled prior to bottling with select lots from all his single-vineyard selections, including those from Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Beckstoffer Las Piedras, the Memento Mori Estate Vineyard in the Calistoga AVA, Oakville Ranch, Vine Hill Ranch, and the Weitz Vineyard. Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, the 2023 is utterly captivating. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the 2021, yet feels even fresher, marked by a gracefulness that carries the palate effortlessly. I suspect it will age with remarkable poise and may ultimately eclipse the 2021 vintage, which merited a perfect score. Beautifully refined, it layers cherry and cranberry fruit with black raspberry and blackberry notes, framed by ultra-refined, integrated tannins that build through the palate, offering a velvety texture and mineral-infused richness. (JC)
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Professional Reviews

99

Jeb Dunnuck

Review Date: 12/2025
The flagship here and a blend put together from the Dr. Crane, Las Piedras, Oakville Ranch, Vine Hill, and Weitz vineyards, as well as some from the Estate vineyard in Calistoga, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon The Flagship was aged 22 months in new French oak. It's another absolutely legendary wine showing currants, smoky tobacco, graphite, violets, and camphor. This carries to a full-bodied, deep, rich, opulent 2023 that has a great mid-palate, ripe, polished, velvety tannins, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish. Hide bottles for 4-6 years and enjoy over the following three decades. There are roughly 1,500 cases produced. Drink 2029-2059. 99+

Notes

Joe Czerwinski of Wine Advocate writes: "Sam Kaplan started his wine consulting business in 2010, with Memento Mori (MM) as his first client. The trio of partners behind MM knew Kaplan from his work at Arkenstone and approached him to be part of the project. The wines are made at Arkenstone, so Kaplan isn't one of those consultants who races from one custom-crush winery to another—he's there pretty much all the time. At Memento Mori, the vineyards in question are some of the best in the Napa Valley, the fruit purchased from a couple of Beckstoffer properties, plus Vine Hill Ranch, Weitz and Oakville Ranch. The flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend assembled by Kaplan from among the best lots, regardless of origin. 'It's about balance and focus of aromatics,' Kaplan said. 'For all my wines, I do like them to be enjoyable on release. I prefer brighter acidity and focus so that they're enjoyable on release but can age for many years. It's more about tannin quality. I'm not trying to make the most drying, tannic, biggest wine on the planet.'"

Details

OriginNapa Valley, California, United States
Type/VarietalCabernet Sauvignon and Blends
SKU1969947