Rombauer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A wonderfully classic expression of Napa Cabernet from Rombauer in 2021, leading with blackberry, cherry, liquorice, graphite, and cedarwood. Medium-bodied with pure blackberry fruit, baking spices, creme de cassis, and red currants with a long lingering finish. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Cab Franc aged 16 months in French oak (75% new). Koerner Rombauer moved to Napa Valley in 1972. He had no intentions of getting into the winery business and became a partner in Conn Creek Winery in 1976, but had his garage bonded as a winery. Officially bitten by the wine bug, Kerner sold his interests in Conn Creek in 1980, made the first Rombauer wines at Shafer, and stored them in his bonded winery garage. A little side note: Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombauer wrote ‘The Joy of Cooking’. Drinking window: 2024-2032. Score – 93. (Jonathan Cristaldi, decanter.com, Dec. 14, 2023)