2021 Sinalunga, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Winemaker Notes: Sinalunga is a wine epitomizing the love, passion, quality, attention to detail, and dedication that went into the making of Castello di Amorosa. Named for the small Tuscan commune near Siena- which inspired Dario Sattui to construct the Castello- this exceptional, limited-production wine is symbolic of the castle itself, a crowning achievement.

Vineyard Notes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit sourced primarily from top vineyards in the Rutherford AVA of Napa Valley, an area famous for producing layered and complex Cabernet Sauvignon.

ACCOLADES

Jeb Dunnuck (99 Points) - Named after the owner's monastery in Italy, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Sinalunga is based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot. Another pure, concentrated, flat-out awesome wine in the lineup, it has a layered, full-bodied, complex style to go with pure cassis and currant-driven fruit interwoven with spicy oak, chocolate, and spring flowers. With perfectly integrated background oak, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and ultra-fine tannins, this is approachable today yet warrants 4-5 years of bottle age and will be a 30, 40, or even 50-year-wine. Wow.

James Suckling (93 Points) - Dark licorice, spice box, dried herbs, cedar and nut shell with a backbone of ripe dark berries on offer. Spiced and juicy palate, medium- to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins. Long and compact. Better after two to three years.

The Wine Advocate (94+) - Meant to be the biggest, baddest wine in the lineup, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Sinalunga fits that description, boasting bold scents of vanilla, cedar, black and red cherries and even a touch of raspberries. It's ripe but balanced, medium to full-bodied, velvety and intense and long on the finish. I'm not sure it will ever be particularly elegant, but it's a big, flavorful mouthful of wine.