Eisele Vineyard - Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

JAMES SUCKLING: "Intensely scented dried flowers on the nose in the rose to lilac spectrum. Raspberry and blackberry undertones. Rose perfumes. It's full-bodied, yet everything's in finesse. Superfine tannins coat your palate and give you incredible length, and it all last for minutes on the palate. Great resonance. Not the power of 2013 but intellect and persistence prevails here. A joy to taste now, but this will improve for decades ahead."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2014 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet in color. It is a little closed on the nose to begin, needing some coaxing to bring out evocative scents of dusty soil, iron ore, and mossy tree bark, leading to a core of wild blueberries and blackcurrant pastilles, plus touches of clove oil and lilacs. The full-bodied palate delivers incredible tension with very firm, densely pixilated tannins supporting the tightly wound fruit, finishing long and minerally."

DECANTER: "A brooding bouquet of black cherry, petroleum jelly, dark spice and hints of rich soil and bitter chocolate introduces a rich, layered wine with ample powdery tannins, a taut core and lovely depth and focus. This is one 2014 that may well surpass its 2013 counterpart."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The wines from the extremely hot drought year, 2014, were just bottled prior to my visit. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the vintage’s precociousness and front-end loaded, flattering style. It is medium to full-bodied, shows beautiful fruit purity, deep black raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, moving toward blacker berries. There is a floral characteristic, spice, and a full-bodied, lush mouthfeel with silky tannin. Drink it over the next 25 years."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Rich start and then extremely, delightfully lively with real life and lift on the palate – despite all that alcohol. Exceptional in this respect, perhaps because of the biodynamic viticulture? Very fine tannins well in retreat."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Over the past few years, the wine has started filling out, adding more flesh and fruit. Along the wine, the has also taken on additional polish to the tannins and nuances of smoke, earth, dark red fruits and forest leaf notes."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Young and intense, with pure, rich flavors of dark berry, gravelly earth, cedary oak and savory herbs. Rustic and chewy, yet well-focused. Keeps attention on the core complexity and structure, gaining with each sip. Needs time. Best from 2020 through 2034. 1,700 cases made."