2016 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 375ml
Tasting Notes
91 points ~ James Suckling 90 points ~ Wine Spectator 1st Place ~ Global Travelers 17th Annual Wines on The Wing, Airline Wine Competition
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is exquisitely balanced with excellent fruit concentration. On the nose, this wine offers black cherries, red raspberries, blueberry compote, graphite, toasted brioche, and a touch of licorice. The palate offers plush but concentrated tannins, mixed berry jam, dried black cherries, chocolate, vanilla, toasted hazelnuts, and cedar with a finish that softens and lingers. The offering is enjoyable today but will also evolve with cellar aging through 2028.
The 2016 growing year was picture perfect, starting with a mild winter with very little rain. Bud break began early with cool spring weather and a nice warm summer, allowing the fruit to mature at an even rate, making optimum conditions for flavor development. Since there was less water in the soil and consistent summer heat, our Cabernet Sauvignon grape berries grew beautifully but small. Small Cabernet berries make great wine with outstanding concentration and an excellent skin to juice ratio. Our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested in late September and early October, when they were in perfect balance. The fruit is predominantly from Rutherford, St. Helena, and the Oak Knoll District appellations.
Upon hand harvesting in the early morning hours, our grapes were carefully destemmed and sent to tank for a whole-berry fermentation. The grapes were cold-soaked in tank at 45°F for 4-7 days, allowing for increased color, aroma, and flavor extraction. After inoculation with a select yeast, the grape must (juice, skins, and seeds) fermented at 82°F, which allowed for a hot extraction on the skins. For fermentation cap management, the juice was pumped over the skins two times per day, wetting the cap evenly for a nice healthy fermentation. After fermentation and pressing, the wine was aged in 50% new French oak and 50% neutral oak for 20 months before bottling. The blend is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Specs
Vintage: 2016
Winemaker: Jason Moulton
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley, California
Alcohol: 14.8%
Included in the Box
6-bottles:
6x 2016 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 375ml
Case:
12x 2016 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 375ml
We are a small, family owned winery in Napa Valley’s historic Rutherford appellation. We own approximately 110 acres of prime Valley-floor vineyards including the Leonardini Vineyard in St. Helena and are committed to making the finest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Reserve wine.
The winery continues to receive accolades and awards for producing some of the greatest wines in the world. In Wine Spectator’s year-end ranking of wines, Whitehall Lane has been honored an unprecedented three times in five years for producing wines rated among the top five in the world. The winery has also been voted Winery of the Year from the Quarterly Review of Wines and Wine and Spirits Magazine.
In our short history, Whitehall Lane has developed into a world-class winery. The efforts of the Leonardini Family are evident in the recent run of accolades from wine publications but are even more apparent in the beautifully made, elegant wines we continue to make.
Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Half Bottle
6 bottles for $89.99 $15/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Half Bottle - $20 = 11.11%
90 Points. Editors’ Choice
This 100% varietal wine offers tremendous value, delivering substantial quality and appeal. Bay leaf and sweet oak contrast well against a juicy center of red currant and cherry, with dusty texture and well-integrated oak and tannin. VB 7/1/20
From all Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 18 months in 50% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon offers more cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as a medium to full-bodied, mouthfeel, plenty of sweet fruit, good purity, and rock-solid length. It’s another well-made, delicious wine. 1/2019
From The Spectacle, I mean Spectator:
90 Points. On the old-school side, this is solidly built, with a core of steeped bitter plum and black currant fruit, inlaid with loam, tobacco and warm cast iron notes. A cedar frame holds the finish. Best from 2021 through 2026. – JM 6/2020
As far as the Suckling review, there seems to be three or so different versions. Perhaps he forgot he tasted it or just felt compelled to keep drinking this, who knows…and who cares?!
@ACraigL Yessir, these are 375ml, half the size of a regular 750ml bottle. Don’t think of it as a case, think of it as a box of 12 half bottles
Maybe we need a new site, boxmates…ha!
Oh, rats. I’m looking forward to it, but I won’t be home till later today.
I received the bottle two days ago, along with an email from Alice - but the email said, “This wine offer is scheduled to launch on Saturday, March 20”! I was somewhat shocked to see it popping up this morning . . . I hope to have a report up by noon (PST).
Just last week we drank the '08 that was offered here in February of '18. I admit we bought it because we were intrigued by the glass closure. Depending on whether you believe the web site or the bottle, it was 94% or 95% CS and the remainder Malbec. The wine was excellent and I would be interested in a SoCal split (split the splits?) of 3 - 6 bottles. If no response, I will probably order the 6.
The wine showed up on Wednesday, and has snce spent its time in my cellar, which is runs around 60 degrees in the winter.
PnP: I’m partially colorblind, so I won’t comment on the color other to assert that it is, indeed, red:
On the nose: dark (sour) cherry, a perfumery hint of blueberry, and a hint of clove. Medium legs,
On to tasting: A bit of blackberry and more dark cherry. Smooth tannins, balanced along the tongue A very easy drinker, certainly less assertive than the Negoce No 17 (an '18 Napa Valley Cab which needs a bit more age and manners) which I had a few days ago. Fairly light in body, a very nice ‘food’ wine. Overall short finish, but with a lingering peppery note.
For lunch, paired with leftover egg noodles and meat sauce. Good taste, but mildly lost in the sauce (a mix of ground beef and Salvadorean chorizo). I may save a glass to go with a New York strip for dinner - I think it would be a better match.
I thoroughly enjoyed the wine, but I’ll have to give it a pass, based solely on the bottle size - I’m just not in the market for half bottles.
[I can only dream of needing to have a handful of 375s on hand in order to keep track of my Corison magnums . . .]
Very much enjoyed the Whitehall Lane Cab Reserve a while back and since SWMBO isn’t much of a red drinker, a half bottle is perfect for me. In for a case!
Late to the party, but hopefully not too late to taste this wine! After UPS did a “ring and run”, I found an awesome box with the 2016 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon inside!
On the pop and pour,
Nose: star anise, chrysanthemum, stewed dark fruit, petrol. The petrol blows off after a few minutes in the glass, so be prepared to let it rest a smidge if you are a “pop and pour” type.
Center palate: black peppercorn, cinnamon, allspice, tart cherry, tannic red plum skins, oak on the finish. There is an acidic sourness (like underripe plums) that lingers. Packs a punch in the high-center of mid palate, then rolls off to the outer edges. There are a lot of tannins floating around here. I’m having a hard time mentally pairing this one with food. This is one of those “late winter evenings in front of the fireplace” wines.
2016 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 375ml
Tasting Notes
91 points ~ James Suckling
90 points ~ Wine Spectator
1st Place ~ Global Travelers 17th Annual Wines on The Wing, Airline Wine Competition
Specs
Included in the Box
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $288/case MSRP
About The Winery
Whitehall Cabernet Video
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Apr 12 - Wednesday, Apr 14
Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Half Bottle
6 bottles for $89.99 $15/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 375ml
/giphy parched-gourmet-anger
If I buy this my last three will have been Bergevin Lane, Ballard Lane and then Whitehall Lane… it almost feels obligatory.
I only got two
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Half Bottle - $20 = 11.11%
Oh my god, where am I going to put this case?!
/giphy sordid-fascinated-cinnamon
annnnd from Wine Enthusiast:
90 Points. Editors’ Choice
This 100% varietal wine offers tremendous value, delivering substantial quality and appeal. Bay leaf and sweet oak contrast well against a juicy center of red currant and cherry, with dusty texture and well-integrated oak and tannin. VB 7/1/20
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/whitehall-lane-2016-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley/
Mr Dunnuck says:
From all Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 18 months in 50% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon offers more cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as a medium to full-bodied, mouthfeel, plenty of sweet fruit, good purity, and rock-solid length. It’s another well-made, delicious wine. 1/2019
From The Spectacle, I mean Spectator:
90 Points. On the old-school side, this is solidly built, with a core of steeped bitter plum and black currant fruit, inlaid with loam, tobacco and warm cast iron notes. A cedar frame holds the finish. Best from 2021 through 2026. – JM 6/2020
As far as the Suckling review, there seems to be three or so different versions. Perhaps he forgot he tasted it or just felt compelled to keep drinking this, who knows…and who cares?!
fwiw
/giphy guilty expert memory
Took my team here for a tasting tour and luncheon - just lovely humans - the lot of em - great day, great wine - autobuy!
Is a half-bottle exactly that? Half the size of a regular wine bottle? So a case is half a case, technically?
Also, why?
@ACraigL Yessir, these are 375ml, half the size of a regular 750ml bottle. Don’t think of it as a case, think of it as a box of 12 half bottles
Maybe we need a new site, boxmates…ha!
@kaolis Halfmates? Um, nevermind.
@ACraigL Soooo many good reasons to drink 375s I’ll name a few:
@ACraigL @pete0744 and you keep a smaller bottle to decant a larger bottle into in the future!!
/giphy timid-melodic-weasel
Love me some half bottles. I’ve got a lot of cab kicking around right now but the new wine cooler only fits cab style bottles so oh well!
Oh, rats. I’m looking forward to it, but I won’t be home till later today.
I received the bottle two days ago, along with an email from Alice - but the email said, “This wine offer is scheduled to launch on Saturday, March 20”! I was somewhat shocked to see it popping up this morning . . . I hope to have a report up by noon (PST).
@rpstrong looking forward to it!
But it’s the obligatory pedantic reminder that it’s now PDT until November.
@rpstrong My apologies. I did indeed have the wrong date. That missed hour of sleep caught up with me.
No wonder I’ve been late for everything . . .
/giphy cramped-weird-secretary
Happy Birthday, Son
Just last week we drank the '08 that was offered here in February of '18. I admit we bought it because we were intrigued by the glass closure. Depending on whether you believe the web site or the bottle, it was 94% or 95% CS and the remainder Malbec. The wine was excellent and I would be interested in a SoCal split (split the splits?) of 3 - 6 bottles. If no response, I will probably order the 6.
@davirom You want 3-6? I am thinking about ordering 2 cases.
@calvinko805 Sure. Number depending on other participation or how many you’re willing to let go of.
@davirom I can split 6 for you.
@davirom sorry. Cjange of plan. Not allow to buy this.
@calvinko805 No problem
Back in town.
The wine showed up on Wednesday, and has snce spent its time in my cellar, which is runs around 60 degrees in the winter.
PnP: I’m partially colorblind, so I won’t comment on the color other to assert that it is, indeed, red:
On the nose: dark (sour) cherry, a perfumery hint of blueberry, and a hint of clove. Medium legs,
On to tasting: A bit of blackberry and more dark cherry. Smooth tannins, balanced along the tongue A very easy drinker, certainly less assertive than the Negoce No 17 (an '18 Napa Valley Cab which needs a bit more age and manners) which I had a few days ago. Fairly light in body, a very nice ‘food’ wine. Overall short finish, but with a lingering peppery note.
For lunch, paired with leftover egg noodles and meat sauce. Good taste, but mildly lost in the sauce (a mix of ground beef and Salvadorean chorizo). I may save a glass to go with a New York strip for dinner - I think it would be a better match.
I thoroughly enjoyed the wine, but I’ll have to give it a pass, based solely on the bottle size - I’m just not in the market for half bottles.
[I can only dream of needing to have a handful of 375s on hand in order to keep track of my Corison magnums . . .]
@rpstrong Just curious, the bottle shot on the offer looks like this is finished in cork. Your pic looks like screwcap of some sort?
@kaolis Screwcap it is.
Very much enjoyed the Whitehall Lane Cab Reserve a while back and since SWMBO isn’t much of a red drinker, a half bottle is perfect for me. In for a case!
/giphy parched-primo-toy
/giphy light-stupendous-dragon
Late to the party, but hopefully not too late to taste this wine! After UPS did a “ring and run”, I found an awesome box with the 2016 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon inside!
On the pop and pour,
Nose: star anise, chrysanthemum, stewed dark fruit, petrol. The petrol blows off after a few minutes in the glass, so be prepared to let it rest a smidge if you are a “pop and pour” type.
Center palate: black peppercorn, cinnamon, allspice, tart cherry, tannic red plum skins, oak on the finish. There is an acidic sourness (like underripe plums) that lingers. Packs a punch in the high-center of mid palate, then rolls off to the outer edges. There are a lot of tannins floating around here. I’m having a hard time mentally pairing this one with food. This is one of those “late winter evenings in front of the fireplace” wines.
Many, many thanks to @casemates, @WCCWineGirl, @Winedavid49 and the WCC Team for the opportunity!
DIPLOMAT! RAT-A-TAT! FAT CAT! AWESOME!
You sold me at “fireplace”.
/giphy restless-heartfelt-middle
@gillisr – I hope you enjoy! Break out the popcorn with real butter!
My wife makes the fires, I make the popcorn, and always with real butter (she grew up on a dairy farm
)