MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
(Oakville, California) - [JD 100] [WA 98] [VM 97+] [WS 96 & #79 Top 100 '19]

Their Story:
In 1954, our family planted the first vines on the property since Prohibition.  For 60 years the grapes were sold exclusively to Robert Mondavi, based on a handshake, and became the core of his Reserve and early Opus One bottlings.  Robert Mondavi referred to our grandparents as "the best grape-growers in the Nampa Valley" and when he and our great-uncle resurrected the property's historic name, our family was included as the only growers to be part of the Robert Mondavi To-Kalon Vineyard.

The Land:
Located in the fabled Oakville benchlands, at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, our fifteen-acres under vine sits on the rockiest outcrop othe historic estate.  The well-drained alluvial gravels allow roots to tap deep into the earth, capturing a characteristic sense of place in each bottle.  Through generations of family stewardship, our Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of the oldest remaining plantings in the Napa Valley.  We farm these vines with our own hands and the attention to detail taught to us by our grandfather.

Ratings and Reviews

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is largely cut from the same cloth yet has just a touch more purity and elegance without sacrificing depth or richness. Just a magical wine any way you look at it, this deep purple-colored beauty reveals a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, camphor, purple iris, and violets. It’s full-bodied and massive, yet still just dances across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. While it’s already hard to resist today (and don’t feel bad for drinking a bottle), it has the purity, balance, and structure to keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to the brothers Alex and Graeme MacDonald for this legendary wine. (Drink between 2019-2054)" (Jan 2019)

98 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a relatively gravelly site compared to other parts of the To Kalon vineyard. Most of the fruit comes from vines aged 45 to 65 years old, with a little fruit coming from the younger section of 20-year-old vines. It was made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and no press wines were used, in order to maintain tannin quality. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant black cherries, warm cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate box notes with touches of aged meat, yeast extract, chargrill and sautéed herbs with hints of pain grille and pencil lead. Full-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, with beautifully balanced, crushed black fruits and firm, very finely grained tannins plus a lovely backbone of seamless freshness, finishing epically long and savory with a slight mineral kick to the finish." - LPB (Sep 2019)

97+ Points - Vinous Media:
"I am every bit as enthusiastic about MacDonald's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon today as I was last year, when I tasted it from barrel. So many 2016s are silky and open-knit, but the 2016 here is unusually tightly wound and reticent. Gravel, crème de cassis, bittersweet chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol develop in the glass over time. The 2016 does not have a lot of the charm of so many wines, but that is probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. Today, the 2016 reminds me most of the 2014 because of its mid-weight structure and sinewy tannins. Time in the glass brings out a more red-toned and floral profile, but the 2016 is not going to be anywhere ready to drink for a number of years. The only question is how many. Readers who can find the 2016 should not hesitate, as it is superb. (Drink between 2024-2041)" - Antonio Galloni (Dec 2018)

96 Points & #79 Top 100 of 2019 - Wine Spectator:
"Very concentrated, this moves slowly but with authority, as the core of cassis and mulled plum fruit is laced with plum pit, stony mineral, light savory, alder and incense notes. Youthfully tight, but with a long echo of sweet fruit that plays out while serious cut and loamy grip hold a rock-steady rhythm. Should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2021 through 2042. 369 cases made." - JM (Aug 2019)