Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
(Napa / Sonoma, California) - [JD 96] [WA 97] [VM 95+] [WE 90]

About the Winery:

Nestled in the Mayacamas Mountains between St. Helena and Santa Rosa, the picturesque 235 acre estate of Pride Mountain Vineyards sprawls across Spring Mountain at roughly 2,100 feet, six miles up a winding, narrow road above St. Helena.  The winery produces unique wines in contrast to those made in the neighboring valleys. The vineyards are set above the fog line, which enables the grapes to be exposed to California's hot sun from dawn to dusk. As a result, the flavors of these wines tend to be rich with ripe black fruits, "balance, nuance, and complexity." They are made to be approachable at a young age with the capability to age beneficially for 10-15 years. Their first wine was produced in 1991.

Notes from the Winemaker:
A real blockbuster, our 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon evolves in the glass, expressing aromas from cassis, mint, licorice, coffee, blackberry, brown sugar, hazelnut and almond. The wine is unctuous and powerful, with big but velvety tannins and lingering aromatic intensity.

This wine was sourced primarily from our Rock Arch vineyard block that was planted in 1982, making it the oldest block on our property. Producing a grippy, blue-black wine, Rock Arch is a unique and compelling backbone for our most profound and ageable cuvée. To this base (76.25%), we added cabernet from our Carolyn’s vineyard block that always contributes to our Vintner Select Cabernet, a splash of petit verdot, and for the first time ever, two barrels of our Reserve Claret went into the final blend, making it 97.25% cabernet sauvignon, 1% petit verdot and 1.75% merlot.

Appellation: Napa/Sonoma
Vintage: 2015
Harvest: October 2015
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Cooperage: French Oak
Blend: 97.25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.75% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 14.8%

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96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Coming mostly from Napa Valley (one-third from Sonoma County), the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is another rich, powerful, yet elegant wine from this estate. Beautifully sweet blackcurrants, black cherries, smoked earth, chocolate, leafy herbs, and mulled spices all give way to a full-bodied 2015 that has a voluptuous texture, sweet tannins, beautiful depth of fruit, and a great finish. It shows the flamboyant, sweetly fruited, concentrated style of the vintage yet stays balanced, layered, and is just a beautiful drink. It’s going to keep for 15-20 years." - (3/27/2019)

97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Coming 2/3 from Napa Valley and 1/3 from Sonoma County and containing small splashes of Merlot and Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve has pronounced creme de cassis, baked blackberries and warm plums scents with nuances of cigar box, smoked meats and tapenade plus a touch of sautéed herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling, crunchy black fruits with loads of savory accents and a firm, grainy frame, finishing with fantastic length and vibrancy. 1457 cases were made." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Dec 2018)

95+ Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is going to need a few years in bottle to come into its own. Despite its obvious ripeness and inner sweetness, the 2015 is presently dominated by its firm tannins. A host of blackberry jam, leather, smoke, spice and earthy notes meld together effortlessly, while truffle, spice, dried flower and leather overtones add a distinctly wild, exotic character. Flamboyant and potent to the core, the Reserve clearly needs time to be at its best. There is plenty to look forward to, that much is obvious. " - Antonio Galloni (Dec 2018)

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Boldly concentrated and intense on the palate, this reserve-level wine is powerfully built and reduced, its midpalate opening up to express a juicy core of blackberry and blueberry. From there it builds weight and richness, finishing in a flurry of dark chocolate and vanilla." - Virginie Boone (10/1/2019)

Wine Spectator:
"Juicy and gutsy energy keeps the slightly overripe plum, açaí berry and boysenberry compote notes in check, with a coating of red licorice on the finish. Drink now through 2021. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,457 cases made." - JM (Web Only - 2019)