2018 Cavus Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Napa Valley

• 99 Point Vintage ~Wine Spectator
• “Winery to Watch” by San Francisco Chronicle
  
• Founder: Orin Swift & Prisoner & "Winemaker of the Year" by WE
• BHW has the Lowest Price Anywhere!
• Free Shipping on 12 or More Bottles

Wine Story

Winemaker Dave Phinney's Cavus Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerhouse from Stags Leap District. Crafted from 30-year-old vines and aged in French oak, this opulent wine rivals legendary neighbors like Shafer and Insignia. Expect layers of dark fruit, spice, and a velvety finish. A true expression of the terroir and Phinney's winemaking mastery.

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About the Wine

Cavus is a cult-status, family-owned winery located in the prestigious Stags Leap District in Napa Valley with a focus on producing rich, robust Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyards are surrounded by the who's who in the Stags Leap District. Icons like Shafer, (where their Hillside Select is priced at $375/bottle) Insignia ($385/bottle), and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Fay ($190/bottle) are nearby. For you super geography nerds: Cavus' vineyard sits above Phelps, and Stag's Leap 'Fay' vineyard, and two vineyards (Stags' Leap, Quixote) SE of Shafer.

Cavus is crafted by world-renowned winemaker Dave Phinney, a true wine legend. Originally from Los Angeles, Dave discovered his passion for wine while studying abroad in Florence. In 1997, Dave made his journey to Napa Valley and worked a harvest at Robert Mondavi Winery. Inspired by the great Robert Mondavi himself, Dave embarked on his winemaking journey, starting Orin Swift Cellars in 1998. With a bold vision of blending across varieties, appellations, and vintages, Dave aimed to honor California as a whole, paying tribute to the historic field blends that define its winemaking heritage. And thus, The Prisoner was born in 2000.

Dave works hand in hand with the talented Jim Barbour, a passionate vintner with a rich history of planning and nurturing some of the best vineyards in Napa, Jim's expertise ensures the utmost quality and care in every grape that goes into our wine.

Cavus Cabernet Sauvignon is born from 30-year-old vines, that grow on the hillside vineyard in the Stag's Leap district and the result is a deep and complex wine. To fully appreciate the magic within each bottle, we recommend serving the Cavus Cabernet Sauvignon at cellar temperature, allowing it to breathe for at least an hour before savoring it. 

Acquiring a Stags Leap Cab of this caliber is a rare and exceptional opportunity. Today, we’re offering the best price anywhere!

2018 was an iconic year for Napa Valley. Wine Spectator blessed this year with 99 points and said it was a "Spectacular year, with wines that are rich and dark, but detailed, restrained in style and very terroir-driven."

Aging: Aged in 80% new French oak for 20 months.

Tasting Notes

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Dark ruby glows from the glass giving off graceful tears as the wine swirls. A truly opulent nose floods the room with tragically expressive aromas of blueberry, Amarena cherry, graphite, cigar box, and some cassis. The palate follows suit with bright redcurrant and ripe black fruits redolent of walks amongst flowering blackberries in English gardens, along with a baking molten chocolate cake that leads into elegantly soft tannins. The long indulgent finish with a hint of marjoram and new French oak professes the wine is primed to drink right away and through 2033.

Critic Reviews

This wine holds a deep, dark center surrounded by smooth, velvety tannins and a plush mouthfeel. Super-concentrated black cherries, blueberries, cinnamon and dark chocolate linger through the finish. The wine is smooth enough to drink now. Best through 2035. ~93 Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide.

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