2016 Dominican Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Across California, 2016 proved to be another ideal harvest. The growing season started early and ended with warm days that gave us perfectly ripened grapes of wonderful concentration, good balance, and refined quality. This is a wine to be savored with hearty fare like grilled meats, chops, strong cheeses such as bleu and camembert, or rich chocolate desserts.
Flavors & Aromas: Ripe currant, fresh Bing cherry, dark plum, with a hint of sage
Style: Full-bodied with soft tannins, a velvety mouthfeel, and a long, lingering finish
Our family believes there is more to a wine’s sense of place than simply soil, climate, and topography. As we farm our Napa Valley vineyards, we are also influenced by our region’s rich history and inspired by its natural beauty. We are carrying on the tradition of the 19th-century Dominican missionaries, who were among the first to plant wine grapes in California. And the towering ancient oaks dotting the landscape make us keenly aware of our role as shepherds of this land, informing our sustainable practices. Dominican Oaks wine is our family’s way of delivering Napa’s true sense of place to your table.
Specs
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Aging: Over 12 months in French and American oak
Alcohol: 13.9%
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x 2016 Dominican Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Case:
12x 2016 Dominican Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Three Generations Committed to 100% Sustainable Viticulture and the Crafting of Fine Wines.
Rutherford Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of wines representing the rich diversity of California’s outstanding appellations. Today, the portfolio includes Rutherford Ranch Winery (Napa Valley), Round Hill, Scott Family Estate (Arroyo Seco), Lander-Jenkins Vineyards, Predator (Lodi), Rhiannon, Silver Buckle, and extensive Private Label offerings.
Uncompromising and ecologically far-sighted viticulture is an ethical imperative for us. Though more labor intensive than prevalent commercial winegrowing methods, our efforts are rewarded with fruit rich in flavor and character. And great fruit is a prerequisite for great wine.
The company is based at Rutherford Ranch Winery, in Napa Valley’s Rutherford District - one of the region’s most renowned sub-appellations. The winery and estate vineyards are certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The critically acclaimed wines have been characterized as one of Napa’s great values by noted wine writer Robert Parker.
The winery received the ‘Family Owned Winery of the Year’ Award at the 2012 New York International Wine Competition. Rutherford Ranch Winery was named ‘Napa Winery of the Year’ at the 2013 NYIWC.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2016 Dominican Oaks Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $25 = 12.81%
Comments from me and my husband on this wine. Popped and poured through a Haley’s Corker on Thursday night, then revisited Sunday night after corked on the counter over the weekend (with half the bottle gone).
Me on Thursday:
Not a ton on the nose - red and black fruits, maybe a touch of menthol
Balanced
No obvious oak
Not a huge wine - tannins give it some stuffing though
Finish is long
Well-made
Would benefit from some air
Elegant but not particularly complex
A little spice
Has characteristics that I enjoy in an everyday cab - really appreciate that this is not super lush or sweet. Makes sense given ABV of 13.9%
Me on Sunday:
This is quite a bit more open. Still plenty alive. Seems like has room to age and would benefit from a decant if you drink it now (which is totally fine)
Husband on Thursday:
Pleasant
A little tannic
Feel on front of tongue
Seems like it would age well but still drinks well now
Had it with mild curry (don’t try this at home!) - doesn’t overcome the spice but isn’t actually terrible - probably because of the fruit and lack of obvious oak
-Tastes like a $25 bottle
Husband on Sunday:
I think this is drinking better today than Thursday. Quite nice.
Color: Light Brick Red Nose: Dark fruits (currant/plum/cherry), some oak Palate: Black fruits, some oak. Mellow tannins. Medium body.
This is a nice Cabernet from Napa Valley. Light Brick Red in color. Medium in body with medium acidity and soft tannins. Beautiful notes of oak, cooked cherries, black currant, vanilla, leather. Bold with nice complexity. Leaving it’s prime so drink now thru next year.
2016 Laura Michael Cabernet was superior, with a longer cellar window.
Thought it should be around $18 a bottle, so good prices from Casemates!
Labrat Phase 1:
First night drank it while eating a Top Sirloin and salad. It went well with everything as well as on it’s own. Light brick red color, aromas and taste as promised.
First taste out of the bottle was good, but muted due to temp (55°). Opened up afterwards. Tried using an aeration device (on bottle), but didn’t notice a vast difference. Probably needed to run it through a couple of aerations.
@MarkDaSpark Thanks for the Laura comparison - I am still astonished how wonderful her wine is and sad that we won’t see more wine from her (or will we?? bom, bom BOM …)
2016 Dominican Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $360.00/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Aug 10 - Monday, Aug 14
2016 Dominican Oaks Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2016 Dominican Oaks Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $25 = 12.81%
Labrat checking in. Report early tomorrow…it’s too hot! The weather, not the wine!
@MarkDaSpark reminder to report!
@aces219 @MarkDaSpark
Ahem…
@MarkDaSpark @rjquillin ahem what? I did post.
@aces219
not you, that was for MdS lagging
@aces219 @rjquillin
I did post … around the same time of your reminders!
And you only beat me by 3 hours!
Fellow Labrat checking in. Details tomorrow as it’s late, but we enjoyed this one, and particularly at this price point.
Comments from me and my husband on this wine. Popped and poured through a Haley’s Corker on Thursday night, then revisited Sunday night after corked on the counter over the weekend (with half the bottle gone).
Me on Thursday:
Me on Sunday:
Husband on Thursday:
-Tastes like a $25 bottle
Husband on Sunday:
@aces219 Thanks to you both - some “vintage” rats today!
/giphy befuddled-superficial-gambler
2016 Dominican Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
Labrat reporting for duty!
2016 Dominican Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Syllabus
Rating: 89
Drink: now thru Now thru 2024
Color: Light Brick Red
Nose: Dark fruits (currant/plum/cherry), some oak
Palate: Black fruits, some oak. Mellow tannins. Medium body.
This is a nice Cabernet from Napa Valley. Light Brick Red in color. Medium in body with medium acidity and soft tannins. Beautiful notes of oak, cooked cherries, black currant, vanilla, leather. Bold with nice complexity. Leaving it’s prime so drink now thru next year.
2016 Laura Michael Cabernet was superior, with a longer cellar window.
Thought it should be around $18 a bottle, so good prices from Casemates!
Labrat Phase 1:
First night drank it while eating a Top Sirloin and salad. It went well with everything as well as on it’s own. Light brick red color, aromas and taste as promised.
First taste out of the bottle was good, but muted due to temp (55°). Opened up afterwards. Tried using an aeration device (on bottle), but didn’t notice a vast difference. Probably needed to run it through a couple of aerations.
Front of bottle:
Back:
Cork comparison:
Aerator:
COMING ATTRACTION: Labrat Phase 2!
@MarkDaSpark oops, used old labrat logo!
TBH, I like the old one better, looking at them.
@MarkDaSpark here’s to the old one
@MarkDaSpark @ttboy23 Geezus man that contraption on top of that bottle, that legal? Looks like some hardware we had back in college…
@kaolis @MarkDaSpark @ttboy23
Execpt we smoked weed through things that looked like that
@MarkDaSpark @ScottW58 @ttboy23 Exactly! Not sure which habit is/was worse…
@kaolis @MarkDaSpark @ScottW58 @ttboy23
Or better… ?
@chipgreen @kaolis @MarkDaSpark @ttboy23
Or cheaper
@kaolis @MarkDaSpark @ScottW58 @ttboy23 So it’s a wine bong?
@InFrom @kaolis @MarkDaSpark @ttboy23
Lol
@MarkDaSpark Thanks for the Laura comparison - I am still astonished how wonderful her wine is and sad that we won’t see more wine from her (or will we?? bom, bom BOM …)