Matthiasson’s 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is well-balanced, understated, and quite simply fantastic. As great Cabernet should be, it is both savory and fruited: Mint leaf, graphite, and cedar intertwine with black cherry and blackberry. Restrained extraction techniques yielded fine-grained tannins that provide structure and ageability while also allowing the wine to be approachable in its youth. High acidity and moderate alcohol (13.5%) keep the wine refreshing, while a touch of new French oak (less than 20%) provides a subtle undercurrent of vanilla. It is bright and full of verve while still showing typicity and a sense of place. It is layered and complex, yet effortless to enjoy. Drink now or hold.
Matthiasson, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
By John McDermott