2017 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

VIN96 Seven Stones’ 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Rich, ample and enveloping, the 2017 soars out of the glass with stunning aromatic intensity and tons of sheer depth. Cabernet Franc accents add brightness to the dark fruit, chocolate, espresso, mint and licorice flavors. The 100% new oak is impeccably balanced. I had a chance to follow the 2017 over a number of hours, and it just got better and better with time. If opened young – which it really shouldn’t be – the 2017 needs a ton of air. There is no question the 2017 Seven Stones is one of the highlights of the year.
Winemaker Notes: The wine begins with a powerful nose of plum, cherry, cigar tobacco, cedar, pomegranate, porcini, lavender, black licorice, toffee, almonds, roast beef and leather. Followed by a bold attack of ripe plum, cherry, dark chocolate, toffee and black currant. The mid palate is rich and dense with great structure showing plum and porcini. The finish is long, plush and velvety with cedar, tobacco, plum and cherry. Plum and tobacco seem to continue forever. This wine will be wonderful from 2022 to 2040. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc. Aged 22 months in 100% new French Oak. Alcohol 14.4%. 315 Cases produced.
Estate Notes: The wine begins with cherry, toffee, coffee, plum, black currants, blackberry, tobacco, cedar and pomegranate. A soft, rich attack with begins with cherry, chocolate, plum, evolving into a very full mid-palate with immense weight and layering of tobacco, chocolate and plum leading to a long finish of orange zest, plum, chocolate, tobacco, black currant, blueberry. The wine exhibits a great length with no hints of bitterness and displays a good tannin grain with wonderful polish. This wine will be wonderful from 2020 to 2035.

Seven Stones winery is a 45-acre winery estate nestled within the Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, just above the Meadowood Resort.

Named after the massive granite sculpture that dominates the estate, the few hundred cases of Seven Stones produced each vintage is the end result of the meticulous efforts of our entire vineyard and winemaking team. Merely three acres of vineyard produce a singular Cabernet Sauvignon of striking complexity, deep concentration and substantial structure, receiving great accolades from the press each year. Built to last, these wines will age gracefully for years to come.

Winemaker Aaron Pott: Armed with a Science degree from Davis and a viticultural degree from Dijon University, Aaron eventually became assistant winemaker for John Kongsgaard at Newton in Napa Valley. Influenced by internationally-acclaimed wine consultant Michel Rolland, Aaron moved to Bordeaux in 1993, where he was winemaker at both Château Troplong Mondot and Château La Tour Figeac in St. Emilion until 1998. Upon returning back to the States, Aaron worked at Quintessa and St. Clement before striking out on his own. He has been the winemaker at Seven Stones since inception in 2005.