Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
(Napa Valley, California) - [WA 98-100] [JD 99] [VM 96] [JS 94]

About the Winery:
Lail Vineyards "Blueprint" Napa Valley Cabernet was founded by Robin Daniel Lail who is as close as it gets to Napa Valley royalty, with a great-ancestor having founding Inglenook! After working as the personal assistant to her mentor, Robert Mondavi, for five years, Robin left in 1982 to co-found Dominus Estate with Christian Moueix. The following year she co-founded Merryvale Vineyards with Bill Harlan, serving as president for a decade, before finally launching on her eponymous venture, Lail Vineyards, with her two daughters in 1995. 

On top of that, Philippe Melka serves as winemaker. Melka has served as winemaking consultant for some of Napa’s most highly regarded properties -  Moone-Tsai, Brand, Hundred Acre, Dalle Valle, Bryant Family Vineyard, just to name a few!

About This Wine:
“J. Daniel Cuvée in vintage 2019 is a showstopper. Classic and intense aromas of blackberry jam, cassis and boysenberry puree lead to flavors that explode on the palate, with cascades of younthful black cherry, dark chocolate and black tea. This beauty is at the same time powerful and poised. It is seemingly endless on the finish, with gorgeous and fine tannins carrying it to a crescendo of lushness and generosity. It is seamless, pure and delicious." — Philippe Melka & Maayan Koschitzky, Winemakers

99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is just about pure perfection and another example of Napa Valley magic. All Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 80% new French oak, it offers an incredible bouquet of pure cassis and blackberry fruits as well as textbook Pauillac-like notes of graphite, tobacco, toasted spices, and chalky minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and powerful, it’s one of those wines that somehow marries incredible intensity and richness with no sensation of weight or heaviness, perfect balance, and a layered, multi-dimensional style that’s hard to describe. It shows more tannins and chocolaty oak with air and needs to be forgotten for 4-6 years, and it will be a 40+-year wine. It’s heavenly juice." (3/10/2022)

98-100 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2019 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel sample with a deep garnet-purple color. It needs a little coaxing to unlock pronounced blackcurrant preserves, Black Forest cake and stewed plums scents with hints of star anise, clove oil, unsmoked cigars and tilled soil with a waft of roses. Full-bodied, the palate explodes with vibrant black fruits, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Beautiful!" - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Mar 2022)

96 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée is a total knock-out. Deep, vertical and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous vertical intensity and tons of sheer class. Inky dark fruit, graphite cloves, licorice and sweet French oak infuse the 2019 with tremendous complexity to complement its sheer opulence. Vineyard sites are Vine Hill Ranch, Heimark, Steltzner and Mole Hill. The 2019 is one of the best editions ever." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2022)

94 Points - James Suckling:
"This is a big wine with lots of richness and some warmth from the ripe fruit. Blackberries,boysenberries and spice with some pine needles. Full and chewy. Lots of tannin and structure keeps it all framed and in check. Really powerful. From vineyards in Calistoga, Howell Mountain, Oakville and Stag’s Leap. Mountain fruit coming through. Needs some bottle age to soften. Better after 2024." (Dec 2021)