It’s been a year since I’ve tried a MacDonald Cab, and even though I had tasted the 15 in barrel once, I had not tried the bottled item. I was finally able to try it out of a Zalto glass last week, decanted and then drunk over 3 hours. It didn’t disappoint. Count yourself lucky if you get this.
2015 MacDonald Cabernet Napa Valley
Deep purple color. Full bodied. Currant, lead pencil, blackberry, and red cherry in the nose. Can feel the aromatic “lift” from the inclusion of some of the 20-year old “young.” vines. Chocolate-covered orange peel and a mineral note peek out after a couple of hours. Masculine frame. Great balance and character. A savory mouthfeel but bone dry. Tannins are like fine sandpaper. This is already approachable (with a decant) but is clearly built to last. Reminds me of the vintage 2000 Mouton. Sets a high bar for all other 2015s to aim for. Phenomenal. 97pts
Was fortunate to taste this in late March on a visit to Napa. Roy is so wrong here. Sorry to say. This is at least a 98 .
This is a wine that is so phenomenal that it is hard to describe. The fruit is so pure. There isn’t a lick of that fake oaky note that so many Napa cab’s have at an young age. There is a depth and structure that shines above all else. Just so phenomenal on so many levels.
I had a chance to taste this wine on a visit with Graeme and Alex last month. Absolutely stunning… incredibly precise and balanced. Even starting at such a high level, their wines seem to improve each year.
I could have sworn that I put my name on the waitlist a year or two ago, but I tried to log on just now and no dice… Doh! Looking forward to trying this in a decade…
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