Cathy Corison, the first woman Winemaker-Proprietor in the Napa Valley, produces three Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, hand-crafted without compromise. Her wines are powerful and elegant at the same time, have a sense of place, and are structured to grace the table and enjoy a long, distinguished life. She sources some of the finest vineyards in the Napa Valley, all located on classic benchland between Rutherford and St. Helena, where deep, stony alluvial soils provide the ideal growing conditions for the Cabernet vine. These vines regularly produce some of the most concentrated and superbly ripened fruit anywhere. Kronos Vineyard, one of the estate vineyards, surrounds the winery on all four sides. Cathy harvested her 39th vintage of Corison in 2025!
For the Corison Cabernet Sauvignon, her concept is to make a complex wine by taking advantage of the natural range of flavors possible in Cabernet Sauvignon grown on different sites. Benchland at St. Helena’s western edge is renowned for wines of unrivaled complexity, concentration, floral aromatics, velvety tannins, and notable natural acidity.
The weather in August, the belly of the ripening season and the critical window for wine quality, was nearly perfect in 2022, with long, cool days and nighttime temperatures dipping as low as the chilly 40°F’s. We started picking Cabernet Sauvignon on 31 August and were most of the way through harvest when the intense heat began around Labor Day. The result was a small harvest of tiny, delicious berries.
The 2022 is so pretty with violet and dried rose perfume right out of the chute. Bright cherries and blueberries join darker cassis and plum flavors for delightful complexity. Provençal herbs, anise, and wet-stone mineral notes join in the fun.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Barrel Regime: aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak & 50% once used -French oak barrels
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 1800 cases
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2022 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Case:
12x 2022 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Price Comparison
Single bottle not for sale on winery website, $1680/case MSRP
Location: Between Rutherford and St. Helena in the Napa Valley
Corison Winery is a small family farm producing delicious Cabernet Sauvignons that speak of place. Over three decades, Cathy Corison and William Martin have built a special home to celebrate the best of our little corner of the world, benchland in the heart of the Napa Valley. Known for power and elegance, Corison wines are balanced to grace the table and are recognized throughout the world for their longevity and consistency.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Christmas preparations under SWMBO‘s direction are serious business. Rpm fears to tread where anything might interfere with SWMBO‘s schedule, but, when rpm received a call from WineDavid last Thursday asking if he and SWMBO could please ‘Rat a wine for Christmas…even though David wouldn’t tell what the wine was…rpm was intrigued enough to take a chance….and SWMBO and rpm were honored and delighted when a bottle of Cathy Corison’s 2022 Corison St. Helena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon arrived on our doorstep!
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Cathy Corison is one of the greatest winemakers in Napa today.
While Cathy’s vision and style are her own, those of us who have been drinking Napa Cabernet Sauvignon back into the ‘60s and even ‘50s know her as the true heir of such legends as Andre Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu and George Deuer at Inglenook
The combination of Cathy’s humility, talent, consistency of vision and the fact she’s a wonderful woman and hostess is the reason every rpm Magical History Tour featured a tasting luncheon with Cathy at her winery!
Not only does Cathy make great Cabernet, Corison is consistently one of the most fairly priced top level Cabernets
Corison Cabernet is comparable to cult Cabernet Sauvignon that sells (often off of exclusive lists) for several hundred dollars per bottle.
Casemates and [the predecessor site] veterans know that rpm is a firm believer that drinking Cabernet Sauvignon under the age of 10 constitutes the infamous crime of Infanticide…but also know that in order to assess the potential of these embryonic Cabernets, sacrifices must be made…and SWMBO and rpm are willing to wade into the briar patch, cask or vat to do their duty!
Because of its youth, we opened the bottle 3 hours before tasting, putting our tasting pour into glasses about 2 hours before tasting. Upon opening, the wine had a concentrated and tight nose, dense fruit and other elements – so we knew this Cabernet would need to breathe in order to be able to understand the wine and give it a fair tasting
THE WINE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!
Using the modified Davis 20 point scoring system SWMBO and rpm both scored the 2022 Corison St. Helena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at 19 points – indicative of a great wine!
An rpmAUTOBUY – primary recommendation would be for minimum of 10 years cellaring,BUT, VERY DRINKABLEnow and for the next year or two.YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IN THIS 2022 CORISON CABERNET SAUVIGNON!If there’s any way you can afford to, buy a case – a Christmas (or other Holiday) present to each other (or to yourself) that will reward you for years to come!
Hitting the key factors in our rating:
Color/Appearance -Very deep purple color, purple edges – characteristic of young Napa Cabernet. Neither of us could give it quite full marks for brilliant clarity (rpm 1.5, swmbo 1), but rpm thinks this is just a development phase issue.
Aroma and Bouquet – The nose is initially closed – showing concentrated tight fruit aroma but unfolds with time in the glass to present classic Cabernet aromas of black currents (cassis) and raspberries, as well as some dark cherry. Some spice – SWMBO identified cinnamon – and herbal hints (rpm), very slight dried flower notes – rose? lavender (but w/o the sweetness) or violet? The description belies how complete the nose is, which got full (6 swmbo) or very close to full (5.5 rpm) marks. [N.B. such high rating here is very unusual for us]
Total Acidity – Excellent balance of acid, fruit and tannin. Lovely structure.
Body – Just the body we want to see in Cabernet: medium-full – rich without being heavy or thick.
Flavor – Wonderful entry and mouth feel, with no flabbiness in the mid-palate. Fruit flavors clean and fulfilling the promise in the aroma. Fruit dominates as it should in youth but enough of the other characteristics show that it is an outstanding food wine, even as a baby!
Astringency – tannin levels are exactly appropriate for a Cabernet worth long aging. Typical of youth, the tannins are not yet resolved but are knitting.
General Qualit – It’s all here: beautiful balance, fruit flavors, complexity that will grow. Based on rpm’s experience, the wine can be expected to continue to improve for at least 20 years and hold for another decade or so after that. And, there’s more – it’s thoroughly enjoyable now!
@rpm
When chipgreen saw that Corison was up for sale, he was excited. When chipgreen read rpm’s review, he was impressed. The only thing left to do was for chipgreen to buy the wine, which he did. Cheers!
@coynedj 25 years from vintage is a good place to start with Corison…so time to open your 2000’s and 2001’s in the next year or so….though they will continue to improve for a few more years….
@klezman@rjquillin I’m guessing that question is being met with ‘peels of derisive laughter….’
*with a nod to Monty Python and The Philosopher’s Stone….
The story on how I became a reluctant Lab Rat for this…
WD contacted me directly last week to see if I was available to Rat an offer, it’s been years, excepting the failed Brown delivery for the Laura Zin awhile back. He was pretty insistent so I reluctantly agreed. Then he teased me with a clue (referencing a vertical) that immediately screamed of an extensive Corison tasting with Cathy pouring I, and other wooters, attended in SoCal by invitation. A real Golden Ticket. Upon asking if a second bottle may be available, it was unlikely. I politely declined, indicating the bottle should go elsewhere; it did. However it seems one, a second as it turned out, made it my way. Now I’m apprehensive. Ratting a Corison? Unworthy! But I was told the price of the bottle is a Lab Rat Report.
I am not at all good at attempting to Rat a bottle of this quality, unaided or otherwise, so I elucidated some help from a co-worker that drinks almost exclusively reds, mostly Cabs but has been extending into others as well, and his wife who quaffs Rombauer Chardonnay. My crutch to help us with what this may be? A 2002 of the same to see where this may be in 2 some years.
Night one chill the '22 a bit to where the '02 from the cellar is.
Pull corks and pour, sniff, sip.
The '22 is closed, the '02 needs air.
Back, after a couple hours in glass, the '02 is so aromatic and lovely, and the '22 is youthful as expected; with dark fruits, touch of spice and some crisp acidity.
Recork both, the '02 with Ar. and wait until today when the three of us could taste over a few hours.
So, after posting that rpm Rat for rpm, what more (using the De Long) can be said…
From the Chard lady
Eye: medium garnet clear
Nose: no note
Taste: medium-sweet, round tannins, unbalanced (excessive alcohol-acid), moderate flavor and finish
The Red found
Eye: clear, deep purplish
Nose: moderate youthful
Taste: medium, dry, fresh acid, flavorful good balance
I found
Eye: clear deep purplish
Nose: moderate youthful
Taste: medium dry, crisp acid, medium dry tannins, good flavorful balance (dark berries)
Finish: long
Pretty pedestrian stuff above with De Long, using Davis a very solid 18~18.5 of 20.
Now, comparing to the 2002 I teased in the Pub, neglecting age, these two are amazingly similar to one another.
The '02 has aged a bit but is still quite youthful, the purple rim is gone and now shows light garnet.
The nose has abundant fruit, but is also showing some leather and lacks the tad of alcohol in the '22
Balance, body, texture are all nearly impeccable; just a classic Cathy cab that all three of us agreed is pure joy to sip.
So why do I compare? Because I’m not at all good at teasing out flavors and aromas and putting words to them.
But comparing, this, I believe, is where the '22 will go (as the '02 is in a great place) if you can wait.
Or, as rpm suggests, and we confirmed, a lengthy decant and enjoy it now.
Not much per/bottle case savings on this one, but lit up SoCal just the same
So which is which?
Do the glasses match the bottles, or reversed?
@kaolis@rjquillin Is the lighting playing a trick that causes the color at the base of the glasses to vary? If not, that seems to be the most telling difference.
I too noticed the difference. The counter is lit by two Phillips PAR20 3000K 50W equiv. 500L led down lights. Seeing that difference I moved the glasses left and right to see if centering below one light made any difference. Initially they were poorly centered and it was even more evident, in the pic they were directly below one. In the right glass you’ll notice the stem shadow off to the left; that’s from the second light about three feet to the right and five feet above the glasses. I think that second light washed out the wine shadow of the right glass, but didn’t realize it at the time.
@chipgreen@pjmartin Watched that movie last night, maybe we’re just sicko’s, can’t tell you how many times we’ve watched it, but we both laugh so hard we cry every time. (even if they screwed it up with the edited version)
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2022 Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $80 = 5.40%
I’ve loved Coriaon since the early days on Woot. After the first rpm tour, I joined the wine club. This is on par with what I pay as a wine club member. Although as the club, no shipping to CT. Club ships to MA for pickup.
I recently had a 2008 that was just fantastic. Plan to hold some 2022 for my granddaughter.
Well this made the rounds…obligatory press…
WE:
95 points. With signature poise and persistence, Corison 2022 Cabernet captures the opportunities of a challenging vintage showing both her skill as a winemaker and the strength of her vineyards. Lifted, fresh aromatics spin into flavors of dark fruits touched by espresso grounds, dry cocoa, and juicy finish. Tannins are approachable now, and will benefit from a meal, or several years in bottle. — Elaine Chukan Brown 12/31/25
Owen Bargreen:
95 points. 2022 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A downright killer wine from a challenging vintage, the 2022 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking beautifully now. Round and generous on the tongue, with good freshness, this offers a dense core of dark cherry and roasted fig flavors alongside espresso bean, loamy soils and shades of menthol on the palate. This is just a sensational effort in ’22. Drink 2025-2038- 95 7/11/25
Suckling:
A bold and deep expression, packed with blackberries, blackcurrants, dark chocolate, black olives, dark earth and licorice. The full-bodied, dense and fruit-driven palate carries fine-grained tannins and is balanced with bright acidity, finishing with hints of mocha and wet stones. Try after 2027 March 2025
Jancis Robinson:
17.5 / 20 points. Medium vibrant purple. Gorgeous nose with gravelly, rocky minerality, a leafy freshness and bright fruit. Elegant yet concentrated showing excellent ageability, crystalline acidity and fine sandy tannin structure. Stony, long finish. Drink 2026 - 2046. Samantha Cole-Johnson 4/21/25
Jeb Dunnuck:
91 points. Beautiful red and black fruits, spicy herbs, and savory, floral notes all shine in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 20 months in 50% new French oak. This complex, medium-bodied, satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon has ripe, integrated tannins and outstanding length. It’s ready to go, and I’d happily drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-12 years. Drink 2025-2037. JD 12/22/25
Spectator:
91 points. Manages to show floral lift in the form of hibiscus and iris notes, while a relatively fresh streak of cassis and bitter plum coulis forms the core. Offers singed alder and savory notes on the tail end, with a slightly taut structure, but overall this does a good job of defying the odds in ’22. Drink now through 2032. 1,814 cases made. James Molesworth November 15, 2025
Wine Advocate:
92 points. Largely picked prior to the Labor Day heat wave, Corison’s 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the restrained, streamlined style that is a calling card of the winery. Marked by black cherries and loam, with subtle spice shadings from its 20 months in 50% new French oak, this medium-bodied wine maintains superb tension between acidity and alcohol and delivers a lingering, mouthwatering finish framed by soft tannins. Drink 2025 -2045 Joe Czerwinski Oct 02, 2025
If it makes you feel any better…
I’ve been kicking myself for not buying ANY back then.
15-16 years ago, I had just started getting into wine and Corison was well beyond my budget. As time passed and my understanding of wine gradually increased, so did the cost of admission for Corison lol.
Still to this day I’ve yet to ever taste a Corison wine unfortunately.
@cathycorison ooh I know it wasn’t directed at me but I would love to take you up on that offer. Loved visiting the winery on the one rpm tour I was on. Also planning on opening up a bottle of 2004 Kronos for dinner tomorrow.
@cathycorison@coynedj@kawichris650 I wasn’t buyer back then either. Never have had a bottle either. I’ve got a mag of '06, I think it’s '06, tucked away somewhere.
@kellybutler Yes, there’s very rough price point below which it’s virtually impossible to get a really top grade wine - and it’s increased to around $100+/- - but unfortunately paying that much is no assurance a wine will be that good.
@kellybutler@rpm
Over the years I’ve struggled with the price point question as well, and don’t really have a good (or any) answer. At some point pricing, imo, just gets crazy and it seems the price is inflated by market “hype” and likely, restricted allocation as well.
But where does the price/taste curve flatten out, where one can find a solid, non AFWE bottle that will satisfy 80~90% of of consumers that don’t consider themselves “connoisseurs” and just want a solid bottle to consume and share? Where is the gray zone where the $100 bottle is clearly superior to the $50 bottle; or that $500 one over the $100?
Here I think Cathy has done well, while not inexpensive, not allowing nose bleed pricing. It’s not a bottle I’d open on a whim but rather a bottle I’d be proud to serve at most any occasion.
@kellybutler@rjquillin@rpm to get the “sound commercial wine” that you described, you really don’t need to spend much. $15-20 will usually do it. But quality goes up until you get north of $30 or more before it starts to get diminishing returns.
@kellybutler@klezman@rjquillin I agree that you can get a drinkable, even enjoyable bottle of “sound commercial wine” - i.e. no serious flaws, but nothing exiting or interesting about it - for $20-30 or less these days (I have a daily drinker I get for $15) but I think you’re ‘$30’ number has gone up quite a bit since COVID.
@kellybutler@klezman@rjquillin@rpm Eh, hit the flash sites, heck this is one right? Just had a '21 Woodward Canyon Artist Series cab that was $29.99 and took a few hours to come around but def worth the price of admission
@rpm following up on our comment chain from 2018. We should try to try some wine in Greenwich. I have a sneaky suspicion that in fact I bought the eurocaves from you in Greenwich when in hindsight you said you had them I. Florida and Colorado. Brian@brianolson.org. Let’s try it some time.
Club member here - I ran the numbers and there is a savings of a bit over $100 at final checkout (on the case price, I didn’t check the 3 pack. Also, I had to add two 6 packs at Corison as I couldn’t find a straight case of the 2022). Either way I do have two 2022 mags in stock but am seriously considering a case
Fantastic offer! I’ve only tasted one Corison cab in my life, a 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet, and it was beautiful. Awesome to see this back on Casemates. Fortunately, my local wine store (1/2 mile away) carries Corison Cabernet, and has the 2019 for less than this case price. I was delighted to find one under the tree this morning- my lovely wife snuck out yesterday and bought one for me!!
By happy coincidence, Dan Berger poured this wine blind for me at lunch yesterday. I never guessed it was a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - too much clean fruit, ample tannins too graceful, alcohol too restrained, no raisins or prunes. Another lunch partner remarked about traces of Brett, to which I replied “Not enough yet.” I would certainly call this a Bordeaux style (specifically Margaux) but at this moment rather simple compared to the evident potential. While imminetly drinkable now, do yourself a favor and lay some away for 5 - 10 years to allow it to develop more bottle bouquet.
Merry Christmas to us all! Nice to see Corison back on the site. I was starting to “dispair” that it was gone for good from casemates etc. The last time I bought was the old site. I have a very small selection, and actually have yet to open a bottle. (My cellartracker list below).
Well in for a case!! Had to send to friends in MA since NH wasn’t on the list (boo!) And biggest case purchase I have made here!
I’m thinking to open the Kronos this weekend as a Xmas “celebration”. I’m not one to keep a wine as an investment, more to really enjoy at the right time. Seems like time might be right to open a bottle. Shocked at the street value of the 750mL and the magnums!!
/showme glorious-memorable-cheer
2014 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon qty 4 (750ml)$92 / $60 2025-2075 92.1 points JG92+ 98% like it (40 votes)
The earlier Corison sales preceded my path towards higher end wines. If I had hopes of every being able to appreciate the nuances of such a quality wine, I would be sorely tempted to part with the cost for a 3-pack. But sadly I don’t know if my lost sense of smell will ever return, so I reluctantly have to keep the dollars in my coffers. If my sense of smell ever returns, maybe I can beg a bottle from the Joplin MO Casemates buyer (or someone else).
Shoot, came to buy a case and just missed it because I forgot the offers reset earlier than midnight here. Anyone in the Seattle area get a case they’re willing to share a few bottles from?
2022 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
95 Points, Decanter
95 Points, Vinous
95 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Single bottle not for sale on winery website, $1680/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jan 12 - Tuesday, Jan 13
2022 Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
3 bottles for $369.99 $123.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $1399.99 $116.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Wow. Welcome back Cathy. Your wine is lovely.
@danandlisa Thank you!
In for 8 cases!
@ShotgunX
Christmas preparations under SWMBO‘s direction are serious business. Rpm fears to tread where anything might interfere with SWMBO‘s schedule, but, when rpm received a call from WineDavid last Thursday asking if he and SWMBO could please ‘Rat a wine for Christmas…even though David wouldn’t tell what the wine was…rpm was intrigued enough to take a chance….and SWMBO and rpm were honored and delighted when a bottle of Cathy Corison’s 2022 Corison St. Helena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon arrived on our doorstep!
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Cathy Corison is one of the greatest winemakers in Napa today.
While Cathy’s vision and style are her own, those of us who have been drinking Napa Cabernet Sauvignon back into the ‘60s and even ‘50s know her as the true heir of such legends as Andre Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu and George Deuer at Inglenook
The combination of Cathy’s humility, talent, consistency of vision and the fact she’s a wonderful woman and hostess is the reason every rpm Magical History Tour featured a tasting luncheon with Cathy at her winery!
Not only does Cathy make great Cabernet, Corison is consistently one of the most fairly priced top level Cabernets
Corison Cabernet is comparable to cult Cabernet Sauvignon that sells (often off of exclusive lists) for several hundred dollars per bottle.
Casemates and [the predecessor site] veterans know that rpm is a firm believer that drinking Cabernet Sauvignon under the age of 10 constitutes the infamous crime of Infanticide…but also know that in order to assess the potential of these embryonic Cabernets, sacrifices must be made…and SWMBO and rpm are willing to wade into the briar patch, cask or vat to do their duty!
Because of its youth, we opened the bottle 3 hours before tasting, putting our tasting pour into glasses about 2 hours before tasting. Upon opening, the wine had a concentrated and tight nose, dense fruit and other elements – so we knew this Cabernet would need to breathe in order to be able to understand the wine and give it a fair tasting
THE WINE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!
Using the modified Davis 20 point scoring system SWMBO and rpm both scored the 2022 Corison St. Helena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at 19 points – indicative of a great wine!
An rpmAUTOBUY – primary recommendation would be for minimum of 10 years cellaring, BUT, VERY DRINKABLE now and for the next year or two. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IN THIS 2022 CORISON CABERNET SAUVIGNON! If there’s any way you can afford to, buy a case – a Christmas (or other Holiday) present to each other (or to yourself) that will reward you for years to come!
Hitting the key factors in our rating:
Color/Appearance -Very deep purple color, purple edges – characteristic of young Napa Cabernet. Neither of us could give it quite full marks for brilliant clarity (rpm 1.5, swmbo 1), but rpm thinks this is just a development phase issue.
Aroma and Bouquet – The nose is initially closed – showing concentrated tight fruit aroma but unfolds with time in the glass to present classic Cabernet aromas of black currents (cassis) and raspberries, as well as some dark cherry. Some spice – SWMBO identified cinnamon – and herbal hints (rpm), very slight dried flower notes – rose? lavender (but w/o the sweetness) or violet? The description belies how complete the nose is, which got full (6 swmbo) or very close to full (5.5 rpm) marks. [N.B. such high rating here is very unusual for us]
Total Acidity – Excellent balance of acid, fruit and tannin. Lovely structure.
Body – Just the body we want to see in Cabernet: medium-full – rich without being heavy or thick.
Flavor – Wonderful entry and mouth feel, with no flabbiness in the mid-palate. Fruit flavors clean and fulfilling the promise in the aroma. Fruit dominates as it should in youth but enough of the other characteristics show that it is an outstanding food wine, even as a baby!
Astringency – tannin levels are exactly appropriate for a Cabernet worth long aging. Typical of youth, the tannins are not yet resolved but are knitting.
General Qualit – It’s all here: beautiful balance, fruit flavors, complexity that will grow. Based on rpm’s experience, the wine can be expected to continue to improve for at least 20 years and hold for another decade or so after that. And, there’s more – it’s thoroughly enjoyable now!
@rpm
When chipgreen saw that Corison was up for sale, he was excited. When chipgreen read rpm’s review, he was impressed. The only thing left to do was for chipgreen to buy the wine, which he did. Cheers!
@chipgreen @rpm This chipgreen individual sounds like a smart cookie.
@rpm I still have a few bottles from the early 2000’s. I should get around to opening them some day.
@coynedj 25 years from vintage is a good place to start with Corison…so time to open your 2000’s and 2001’s in the next year or so….though they will continue to improve for a few more years….
/giphy glorious-wonderful-griswold
@rjquillin How many of those for sharing?
@klezman @rjquillin I’m guessing that question is being met with ‘peels of derisive laughter….’
*with a nod to Monty Python and The Philosopher’s Stone….
@rjquillin @rpm I’m under the working assumption that Ron bought a case. Agreed if it was the 3 pack.
The story on how I became a reluctant Lab Rat for this…
WD contacted me directly last week to see if I was available to Rat an offer, it’s been years, excepting the failed Brown delivery for the Laura Zin awhile back. He was pretty insistent so I reluctantly agreed. Then he teased me with a clue (referencing a vertical) that immediately screamed of an extensive Corison tasting with Cathy pouring I, and other wooters, attended in SoCal by invitation. A real Golden Ticket. Upon asking if a second bottle may be available, it was unlikely. I politely declined, indicating the bottle should go elsewhere; it did. However it seems one, a second as it turned out, made it my way. Now I’m apprehensive. Ratting a Corison? Unworthy! But I was told the price of the bottle is a Lab Rat Report.
I am not at all good at attempting to Rat a bottle of this quality, unaided or otherwise, so I elucidated some help from a co-worker that drinks almost exclusively reds, mostly Cabs but has been extending into others as well, and his wife who quaffs Rombauer Chardonnay. My crutch to help us with what this may be? A 2002 of the same to see where this may be in 2 some years.
Night one chill the '22 a bit to where the '02 from the cellar is.
Pull corks and pour, sniff, sip.
The '22 is closed, the '02 needs air.
Back, after a couple hours in glass, the '02 is so aromatic and lovely, and the '22 is youthful as expected; with dark fruits, touch of spice and some crisp acidity.
Recork both, the '02 with Ar. and wait until today when the three of us could taste over a few hours.
So, after posting that rpm Rat for rpm, what more (using the De Long) can be said…
From the Chard lady
Eye: medium garnet clear
Nose: no note
Taste: medium-sweet, round tannins, unbalanced (excessive alcohol-acid), moderate flavor and finish
The Red found
Eye: clear, deep purplish
Nose: moderate youthful
Taste: medium, dry, fresh acid, flavorful good balance
I found
Eye: clear deep purplish
Nose: moderate youthful
Taste: medium dry, crisp acid, medium dry tannins, good flavorful balance (dark berries)
Finish: long
Pretty pedestrian stuff above with De Long, using Davis a very solid 18~18.5 of 20.
Now, comparing to the 2002 I teased in the Pub, neglecting age, these two are amazingly similar to one another.
The '02 has aged a bit but is still quite youthful, the purple rim is gone and now shows light garnet.
The nose has abundant fruit, but is also showing some leather and lacks the tad of alcohol in the '22
Balance, body, texture are all nearly impeccable; just a classic Cathy cab that all three of us agreed is pure joy to sip.
So why do I compare? Because I’m not at all good at teasing out flavors and aromas and putting words to them.
But comparing, this, I believe, is where the '22 will go (as the '02 is in a great place) if you can wait.
Or, as rpm suggests, and we confirmed, a lengthy decant and enjoy it now.
Not much per/bottle case savings on this one, but lit up SoCal just the same
So which is which?
Do the glasses match the bottles, or reversed?
@rjquillin @rpm Putting the heavy hitters on rat duty, well done gentleman.
The ‘02 on the right?
@rjquillin I know! I know! They both contain the iocane powder!!!
@kaolis @rjquillin Is the lighting playing a trick that causes the color at the base of the glasses to vary? If not, that seems to be the most telling difference.
@kaolis @rjquillin @rpm
I was thinking it reveals who really made @Winedavid59’s “nice” list.
@rjquillin @rpm I actually meant to say '22 right, '02 left…can’t keep up with time changes and solstices anymore
@kaolis @rpm @Mark_L
I too noticed the difference. The counter is lit by two Phillips PAR20 3000K 50W equiv. 500L led down lights. Seeing that difference I moved the glasses left and right to see if centering below one light made any difference. Initially they were poorly centered and it was even more evident, in the pic they were directly below one. In the right glass you’ll notice the stem shadow off to the left; that’s from the second light about three feet to the right and five feet above the glasses. I think that second light washed out the wine shadow of the right glass, but didn’t realize it at the time.
The glasses follow the bottles.
@kaolis @Mark_L @rjquillin @rpm Very nice! I was going to guess ‘02 on left but already scrolled past the answer to reply
@kaolis @Mark_L @rjquillin @rpm @Winedavid59
Indeed!
No shipping to my state is saving my wallet.
/giphy indulgent-merry-stocking
Appropriate order name.
Treating this as a retirement gift to myself.
Merry Christmas to all!
@pjmartin
Congrats, brother! I was hoping to justify my purchase by using my Christmas bonus to buy it. Now, if only I had gotten a Christmas bonus!
@chipgreen @pjmartin Awww you and.Clark Griswold. Sorry
@chipgreen no Christmas bonus but I did use a meh coupon from the cheer purchase.
@chipgreen @pjmartin Watched that movie last night, maybe we’re just sicko’s, can’t tell you how many times we’ve watched it, but we both laugh so hard we cry every time. (even if they screwed it up with the edited version)
@chipgreen @kaolis
There’s nothing sick about loving one of the best Christmas movies
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2022 Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $80 = 5.40%
I’ve loved Coriaon since the early days on Woot. After the first rpm tour, I joined the wine club. This is on par with what I pay as a wine club member. Although as the club, no shipping to CT. Club ships to MA for pickup.
I recently had a 2008 that was just fantastic. Plan to hold some 2022 for my granddaughter.
Well this made the rounds…obligatory press…
WE:
95 points. With signature poise and persistence, Corison 2022 Cabernet captures the opportunities of a challenging vintage showing both her skill as a winemaker and the strength of her vineyards. Lifted, fresh aromatics spin into flavors of dark fruits touched by espresso grounds, dry cocoa, and juicy finish. Tannins are approachable now, and will benefit from a meal, or several years in bottle. — Elaine Chukan Brown 12/31/25
Owen Bargreen:
95 points. 2022 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A downright killer wine from a challenging vintage, the 2022 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking beautifully now. Round and generous on the tongue, with good freshness, this offers a dense core of dark cherry and roasted fig flavors alongside espresso bean, loamy soils and shades of menthol on the palate. This is just a sensational effort in ’22. Drink 2025-2038- 95 7/11/25
Suckling:
A bold and deep expression, packed with blackberries, blackcurrants, dark chocolate, black olives, dark earth and licorice. The full-bodied, dense and fruit-driven palate carries fine-grained tannins and is balanced with bright acidity, finishing with hints of mocha and wet stones. Try after 2027 March 2025
Jancis Robinson:
17.5 / 20 points. Medium vibrant purple. Gorgeous nose with gravelly, rocky minerality, a leafy freshness and bright fruit. Elegant yet concentrated showing excellent ageability, crystalline acidity and fine sandy tannin structure. Stony, long finish. Drink 2026 - 2046. Samantha Cole-Johnson 4/21/25
Jeb Dunnuck:
91 points. Beautiful red and black fruits, spicy herbs, and savory, floral notes all shine in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 20 months in 50% new French oak. This complex, medium-bodied, satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon has ripe, integrated tannins and outstanding length. It’s ready to go, and I’d happily drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-12 years. Drink 2025-2037. JD 12/22/25
Spectator:
91 points. Manages to show floral lift in the form of hibiscus and iris notes, while a relatively fresh streak of cassis and bitter plum coulis forms the core. Offers singed alder and savory notes on the tail end, with a slightly taut structure, but overall this does a good job of defying the odds in ’22. Drink now through 2032. 1,814 cases made. James Molesworth November 15, 2025
Wine Advocate:
92 points. Largely picked prior to the Labor Day heat wave, Corison’s 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the restrained, streamlined style that is a calling card of the winery. Marked by black cherries and loam, with subtle spice shadings from its 20 months in 50% new French oak, this medium-bodied wine maintains superb tension between acidity and alcohol and delivers a lingering, mouthwatering finish framed by soft tannins. Drink 2025 -2045 Joe Czerwinski Oct 02, 2025
fwiw
Cathy probably doesn’t have fond memories of 2010 but I was grateful. 2-pack for $59.99 total.
@scott0210
Those were the days.
@scott0210 I should have bought more from that offering than I did.
@coynedj @scott0210 Right?
@scott0210 Yes, still haven’t fully recovered from the ptsd.
Merry Christmas! @coynedj
If it makes you feel any better…
I’ve been kicking myself for not buying ANY back then.
15-16 years ago, I had just started getting into wine and Corison was well beyond my budget. As time passed and my understanding of wine gradually increased, so did the cost of admission for Corison lol.
Still to this day I’ve yet to ever taste a Corison wine unfortunately.
@coynedj @kawichris650 Let me know when you’re in the Napa neighborhood and we’d love to host you at the winery!
@cathycorison ooh I know it wasn’t directed at me but I would love to take you up on that offer. Loved visiting the winery on the one rpm tour I was on. Also planning on opening up a bottle of 2004 Kronos for dinner tomorrow.
@CAGrl @cathycorison
It has been entirely too long since we’ve seen either of you two here!
@cathycorison @coynedj @kawichris650 I wasn’t buyer back then either. Never have had a bottle either. I’ve got a mag of '06, I think it’s '06, tucked away somewhere.
@CAGrl Let us know when you’re in the neighborhood!
This is fantastic ! Unless it sells out it will be available after the PowerBall drawing tonight.
/giphy furry-radiant-donkey
There is a certain price point that I wonder can you taste that difference?
@kellybutler Yes, there’s very rough price point below which it’s virtually impossible to get a really top grade wine - and it’s increased to around $100+/- - but unfortunately paying that much is no assurance a wine will be that good.
@kellybutler @rpm
Over the years I’ve struggled with the price point question as well, and don’t really have a good (or any) answer. At some point pricing, imo, just gets crazy and it seems the price is inflated by market “hype” and likely, restricted allocation as well.
But where does the price/taste curve flatten out, where one can find a solid, non AFWE bottle that will satisfy 80~90% of of consumers that don’t consider themselves “connoisseurs” and just want a solid bottle to consume and share? Where is the gray zone where the $100 bottle is clearly superior to the $50 bottle; or that $500 one over the $100?
Here I think Cathy has done well, while not inexpensive, not allowing nose bleed pricing. It’s not a bottle I’d open on a whim but rather a bottle I’d be proud to serve at most any occasion.
@kellybutler @rjquillin @rpm to get the “sound commercial wine” that you described, you really don’t need to spend much. $15-20 will usually do it. But quality goes up until you get north of $30 or more before it starts to get diminishing returns.
@kellybutler @rjquillin Well put!
@kellybutler @klezman @rjquillin I agree that you can get a drinkable, even enjoyable bottle of “sound commercial wine” - i.e. no serious flaws, but nothing exiting or interesting about it - for $20-30 or less these days (I have a daily drinker I get for $15) but I think you’re ‘$30’ number has gone up quite a bit since COVID.
@kellybutler @klezman @rjquillin @rpm Eh, hit the flash sites, heck this is one right? Just had a '21 Woodward Canyon Artist Series cab that was $29.99 and took a few hours to come around but def worth the price of admission
Did I have to buy this? You know I did!
I’ve missed you all. Merry Solstice!
@rpm following up on our comment chain from 2018. We should try to try some wine in Greenwich. I have a sneaky suspicion that in fact I bought the eurocaves from you in Greenwich when in hindsight you said you had them I. Florida and Colorado. Brian@brianolson.org. Let’s try it some time.
Club member here - I ran the numbers and there is a savings of a bit over $100 at final checkout (on the case price, I didn’t check the 3 pack. Also, I had to add two 6 packs at Corison as I couldn’t find a straight case of the 2022). Either way I do have two 2022 mags in stock but am seriously considering a case
Fantastic offer! I’ve only tasted one Corison cab in my life, a 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet, and it was beautiful. Awesome to see this back on Casemates. Fortunately, my local wine store (1/2 mile away) carries Corison Cabernet, and has the 2019 for less than this case price. I was delighted to find one under the tree this morning- my lovely wife snuck out yesterday and bought one for me!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!
POPSOCKETS! SPA KITS! POLLY POCKETS! AWESOME!
By happy coincidence, Dan Berger poured this wine blind for me at lunch yesterday. I never guessed it was a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - too much clean fruit, ample tannins too graceful, alcohol too restrained, no raisins or prunes. Another lunch partner remarked about traces of Brett, to which I replied “Not enough yet.” I would certainly call this a Bordeaux style (specifically Margaux) but at this moment rather simple compared to the evident potential. While imminetly drinkable now, do yourself a favor and lay some away for 5 - 10 years to allow it to develop more bottle bouquet.
@winesmith from one of my favorite people
/giphy blinking-caring-stocking
SOLD!!
Merry Christmas to us all! Nice to see Corison back on the site. I was starting to “dispair” that it was gone for good from casemates etc. The last time I bought was the old site. I have a very small selection, and actually have yet to open a bottle. (My cellartracker list below).
Well in for a case!! Had to send to friends in MA since NH wasn’t on the list (boo!) And biggest case purchase I have made here!
I’m thinking to open the Kronos this weekend as a Xmas “celebration”. I’m not one to keep a wine as an investment, more to really enjoy at the right time. Seems like time might be right to open a bottle. Shocked at the street value of the 750mL and the magnums!!
/showme glorious-memorable-cheer
2014 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon qty 4 (750ml)$92 / $60 2025-2075 92.1 points JG92+ 98% like it (40 votes)
2006 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon qty 3 (750ml)$100 / $40 2023-2060 91.6 points JG93+ 100% like it (41 votes)
2006 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard USA qty 2 (750ml)$178 / $80 2015-2024
The earlier Corison sales preceded my path towards higher end wines. If I had hopes of every being able to appreciate the nuances of such a quality wine, I would be sorely tempted to part with the cost for a 3-pack. But sadly I don’t know if my lost sense of smell will ever return, so I reluctantly have to keep the dollars in my coffers. If my sense of smell ever returns, maybe I can beg a bottle from the Joplin MO Casemates buyer (or someone else).
For those still on the fence…
2022 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon
Flannery Flanken Style shortribs in plumb, Anson-Mills buttered pencil cob grits, stringy greens.
The Corison only improved over two days and proved an outstanding complement to the meal.
Thank you @cathycorison for the wonderful bottle, @WineDavid59 for finding this second one, and @rpm for guidance…
Merry Christmas all, and a coming Happy New Year!
@rjquillin
Merry Christmas!
@rjquillin We also had a glass each last evening and it was still going strong! Wonderful wine!
@rjquillin I’ll be right over.
Shoot, came to buy a case and just missed it because I forgot the offers reset earlier than midnight here.
Anyone in the Seattle area get a case they’re willing to share a few bottles from?