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2015 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 100 Points

Lastly, and pure perfection in the glass, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal from two great sites: Missouri Hopper in Oakville and Las Posadas in Howell Mountain. Aged in 100% new French oak, it offers an incredible bouquet of crème de cassis, liquid rock, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and unsmoked tobacco, with searing minerality in the aromatics as well as on the palate. Offering full-bodied richness, terrific concentration, and building tannin, this backward, dense, yet perfectly balanced 2015 needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will impress for 2-3 decades. Bravo!

2015 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley – 98 Points

Leading off the 2015s from this estate, the 2015 Proprietary Red is a much more Cabernet-dominated blend than the 2014 and is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and the rest Malbec. Brought up all in new French oak, this monster effort boasts a deep purple color as well as sensational notes of currants, blackberry liqueur, graphite, espresso roast and leafy herbs. Full-bodied, ripe, opulent and incredibly concentrated, this killer effort needs 2-3 years to shed some baby fat, but it’s going to keep for 2-3 decades.

2015 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 97 Points

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is made predominately from Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard. It gives a very deep purple-black color and is redolent of crème de cassis, blueberry compote, Indian spices and crushed rocks with touches of black soil, cigar boxes and Provence herbs. The palate is built like a brick house with a solid frame of firm, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the generous black and blue fruits and beautiful spice layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

2015 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley – 94 Points

Blended of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard with 18% Merlot, 18.5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Malbec, the 2015 Proprietary Red gives a very deep inky purple color and very pretty nose of baking spices, potpourri, underbrush and rose hip tea over a core of crushed black plums and black currants, with hints of dried mint and chocolate box. Rich, full-bodied and impactful with its layers of perfumed fruit in the mouth, it has lovely plush tannins and just enough acid lift, finishing with great length.

2014 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 95+ Points

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard with 6% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It offers up notions of crushed blackberries, warm blueberries and dried herbs with suggestions of cedar, Marmite toast and unsmoked cigar. Medium to full-bodied with impressive concentration and a rock-solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, the palate delivers mouth-filling black and blue fruit with a lively kick on the long, earthy finish.

2014 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley – 94 Points

Composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 10.5% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Malbec, the 2014 Proprietary Red has a deep garnet-purple color and compelling cassis, black cherries, mulberries and plums nose with hints of chocolate box and menthol. Full-bodied and jam-packed with muscular black fruit, it has a very firm, ripe, fine-grained tannic backbone and a long, pure-fruited finish.

Antonio Galloni shares his thoughts on the 2014 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon and Proprietary Red Wine.

2014 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon – 95 Points

A totally striking wine, Carte Blanche’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as good from bottle as it was from barrel. Black cherry, graphite, earthiness, tobacco and licorice all give the wine its savory personality. Rich, voluptuous and racy, the 2014 offers superb depth in an opulent, flamboyant style that will be easy to enjoy with minimal cellaring.

2014 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red – 94 Points

The 2014 Proprietary Red Wine is a powerful, tannic wine that is going to need at least a few years to fully come together, but it is impressive, even at this early stage. This is an especially vibrant 2014. Floral, savory overtones laced with violet, lavender, spice and menthol add shades of nuance throughout. The 2014 has developed nicely since I last tasted it from barrel a year ago.