MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
(Oakville, CA) - [JD 96+] [WS 96] [VM 95+] [WA 95+]

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

96+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The soils in this part of To Kolan are rockier, and with the old vines, everything was harvested well in advance of the devastating fires in 2017. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a more Bordeaux-like austerity that’s common in the vintage as well as beautiful notes of pure crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and lead pencil. Deep purple-hued, full-bodied, rich, and balanced, it has a terrific blend of power and elegance. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more. (Drink between 2023-2043)" (Jan 2020)

96 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Intense cassis and steeped cherry flavors form the core, while singed tobacco, warm loam and savory notes swirl around. In a youthful state now, wrestling with itself as warm gravel, roasted juniper and dark olive elements vie for attention. Cellaring will let this unwind fully. Leans toward the old-school side of the stylistic spectrum. Best from 2022 through 2038. 392 cases made." - JM (Nov 2020)

95+ Points - Vinous Media:
"MacDonald's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a soft, pretty and open-knit wine that shows the modest structure of the year. All of the vineyard signatures are present, but very much in miniature. The tannins are nicely balanced and integrated. More than anything, though, I am pleasantly surprised by how well the 2017 has come along over the last year. Readers should expect a bright, tightly wound Cabernet with a good bit of energy and freshness, but less of the textural opulence of most years. (Drink between 2025-2042)" - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2020)

95+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. Only bottled a couple of months ago, it starts out a little broody and subdued, with coaxing earthy nuances emerge of truffles, tilled soil, underbrush and charcoal over a core of baked blackberries, plum preserves, crème de cassis and tapenade with touches of cardamom and Indian spices. Full-bodied, the palate delivers a compellingly chewy, hedonic experience of black fruit preserves and background freshness, finishing long with tons of earthy sparks." - LBP (Oct 2019)