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The holidays are here, and this year we are rolling large. There are going to be bigger crowds at the table, and that calls for bigger bottles. And not just any big bottles. When we say rolling large, we mean it. We’ve rounded up a group of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in magnum that are sure to be the star of your holiday table. Besides the wow factor, large formats have a particular advantage: The liquid ages more slowly thanks to the greater ratio between the wine in the bottle and the air that can enter via the cork closure. Put simply, high-quality bottles will last longer. But since this is the holiday season, not science class, let’s focus on those that are perfect to pour right now—that are destined to impress. Rich berry flavors, touches of spice, and polished tannins are on the menu this year, and with bigger bottles there’s plenty to go around.
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Cliff Lede 2019 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California
The 2019 growing season was characterized by a frost-free bud break, three inches of rain in May, and a warm and early autumn, all of which produced grapes with intense flavor concentration and pronounced acidity. After harvest the grapes were transferred to small tanks and cold soaked for one week and macerated for six weeks to optimize extraction and tannic profile. This exceptional wine has aromas of Mission fig, black cherry, and crushed violet with flavors of cassis, red raspberry, and Bing cherry enveloped in silky tannins.
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Acumen 2016 Peak Edcora Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak Napa Valley California
This enticing Cabernet blend is comprised of 79 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Merlot, 7 percent Cabernet Franc, 3 percent Malbec, and 3 percent Petit Verdot. The fruit is sourced from the Attelas and Edcora estate vineyards and has aromas of cherry cola, black plum, dark cocoa powder, and cassis. It has opulent and voluptuous tannins and flavors of black cherry, fennel frond, and a touch of freshly ground black pepper in the finish.
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Chappellet 2019 Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California
This delicious Cabernet is made from fruit sourced from the rocky, mountainside Pritchard Hill vineyard by winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, and is composed of 95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 percent Petit Verdot. It is aged for 22 months in 100 percent French oak and has aromas of cassis, black raspberry, and pencil lead, with a touch of charcuterie that lead to flavors of vanilla, Indian spices, black currant, and black plum all wrapped in a silky tannic sheath.
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Signorello Estate 2019 Padrone Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California
Created in honor of Ray Signorello Sr, grapes for this sumptuous wine are sourced from the best blocks of the estate’s vineyards. The fruit was harvested at 25 brix so the resulting wine is very concentrated with intense flavors. Aged for 18 months in 55 percent new French oak, it has aromas of black currant, dark chocolate, crushed violet petals, and pencil lead. The tannins are silky smooth and surround powerful flavors of cassis, anise, black plum, coffee, dried lavender, and cocoa powder.
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Mondavi Sisters Aloft 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley California
Named for the property’s 1,700-foot altitude on Howell Mountain high above the valley floor, this wine is made by Angelina Mondavi. The family’s Cold Springs Vineyard is farmed by viticulturist Jim Barbour and only sixteen barrels were made in 2019. This complex wine is inky-garnet colored with aromas of blueberry, black raspberry, eucalyptus, and dried Mediterranean herbs. Full bodied in the mouth, it offers velvety tannins and flavors of mocha, dried tobacco leaf, red cherry, and freshly ground black pepper.
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Bella Oaks 2017 Proprietary Red Wine Rutherford Napa Valley California
Suzanne Deal Booth acquired Bella Oaks in 2010 and amassed a legendary team including winemaker Nigel Kinsman, vineyard manager David Abreu, and master blender Michel Rolland.
Only 597 cases of this certified organic, biodynamically farmed wine were made in 2017. Composed of 88 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 11 percent Cabernet Franc, and 1 percent Petit Verdot, it is aged for 21 months in 70 percent new French oak. Brooding violet in the glass, there are aromas of black plum, cassis, and dried lavender with silky tannins and flavors of black currant, graphite, dried Mediterranean herbs, and finely ground black pepper in the persistent finish.
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Pas de Cheval 2019 Finale Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley California
Part of a three-wine set that includes Prelude, Intermezzo, and Finale we chose Finale for your holiday table because of its sheer power, elegance, and finesse, although you wouldn’t be wrong to want all three. They are crafted by Maayan Koschitzky, the director of winemaking for Atelier Melka who consistently garners 100 points for his wines. Finale is inky purple in the glass with aromas of black raspberry, cigar box, and black currant. Full bodied with silky tannins, it provides sumptuous flavors of crème de cassis, pencil lead, and tobacco leaf before the long, long finish. Koschitzky suggests drinking now through 2049, and we agree.
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