2006 Staglin Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

SKU #1050874 97 points Connoisseurs Guide

This immense, deeply fruited, lavishly oaked wine is all about the future, and, despite showing loads of highly concentrated, black currant character, it is prohibitively tannic for near term drinking. It is also as rich and as precise in its varietal Cabernet Sauvignon focus as any wine tasted in some time. Everything about this one speaks to depth and longevity, and it is likely to need a decade or more before hitting its stride. But, few wines are its equal for classic flavors even now and fewer still will match its progress in the fullness of time. (4/ 2009)

96 points Wine Spectator

Rich, focused, supple, plush and layered, showing amazing purity of flavor, with tiers of black currant, black cherry, mineral, sage, anise and cedar. Yet for all its flavor, it's the seductive textural fleshiness that's perhaps most striking. Best from 2010 through 2019. 3,000 cases made. (10/ 2009)

94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, this wine reveals a very deep garnet colour. Fragrant aromas of cassis and prunes with mocha, underbrush and a touch of cardamom lead to an elegant yet concentrated palate with medium to high acidity and medium to firm fine tannins plus a nicely fleshed mid-palate. Long finish. (7/ 2010)

92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Deep ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry, licorice, smoke and menthol on the nose. Opulent on entry, then broad and fairly full in the middle, with youthfully reticent flavors of sweet dark berries and intriguing soil tones. This really spreads out on the back end, finishing with a fine, broad dusting of tannins and mouthcoating persistence... (6/ 2009)