2014 Roberta's Reserve
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Tasting notes
The Merlot-dominated 2014 Roberta's Reserve (there's 3% Cabernet Franc) is all about finesse and elegance, revealing a semi-opaque ruby hue (no bricking) as well as a beautiful perfume of sweet red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, truffly earth, and subtle chocolaty, spicy, floral nuances. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Merlot with a supple, elegant mouthfeel, resolved, soft tannins, no hard edges, and outstanding length. It's another 2014 that builds nicely with air, and while it's clearly in its prime drinking window, it has another decade or more of prime drinking and, I suspect, a gradual decline thereafter.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Good medium ruby, but not quite as saturated as either the '15 or '16. Alluring, complex scents of black raspberry, plum, licorice, bitter chocolate and Provençal herbs. Wonderfully refined wine with crushed dark berry and menthol flavors accented by herbs and a floral nuance; the fruit shows a briary, almost inky character. Very tight in the early going--even a bit youthfully stunted, but has all the elements for extended bottle aging. Finishes very long, savory and dry, with a serious spine of granular tannins. (14.4% alcohol; 70% new French, 25% second-fill French and 5% new Hungarian oak; the late Denis Malbec made the '14s but did not bottle them)
Made from 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the deep ruby/purple-colored 2014 Merlot Roberta's Reserve is another terrific Merlot, and my money is on it being the best example of this variety in the Valley. Blackberries, dried herbs, earth, and loads of chocolate give way to a full-bodied, opulent 2014 that has silky tannin, incredible purity and a great, great finish. It too will keep for 15-20 years. Speaking about the recent vintages, this team loves their 2016s and calls them the purest expressions of their varieties they’ve seen. These are indeed beautiful wines that seem similar to the 2014s, yet with a touch more oomph and mid-palate depth. I loved the 2015s and these are classic wines from Napa Valley that lead with their fruit, yet like all the wines from Kapcsandy, remain beautifully balanced, if not restrained in this vintage. The 2014s are drinking beautifully today, with elegant, classic, even old-world styles, and they’re going to evolve nicely as well. These are all classy, regal wines.
The 2014 Merlot Roberta’s Reserve, composed of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, has a deep garnet-purple color and is scented of warm plums, baked blackberries and blueberry pie with suggestions of spice cake, violets and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, rich, opulent and seductive in the mouth, it has mouth-filling black and blue fruit with oodles of exotic spices, framed by velvety tannins and great freshness, finishing long.