2014 The Vineyardist Cabernet Sauvignon
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Another wine produced at the Diamond Mountain vineyard is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge, which is a small cuvée of just under 100 cases aged in 100% Taransaud wood. This comes from the red iron-rich Aiken soils and this wine offer up notes of melted road tar, crème de cassis, pen ink , graphite and oodles of blackcurrant fruit. It is dense, rich, age-worthy and structured for a 2014, but this is mountain fruit and serious winemaking. This one will benefit from several years of bottle age and drink well for at least 25 or more years.
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
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The 2014 The Vineyardist has turned out beautifully. Pomegranate, sweet red cherry, plum, mint and rose petal give the wine its distinctive brightness in this vintage. The 2014 is perhaps a bit less explosive than some previous editions, but it more than makes up for that with its total finesse.
A barrel sample of the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon came from even smaller yields of 1.25 tons of fruit per acre. This is certainly a winner in this vintage. The wine comes across as a structured Napa version of a first- or second-growth Pauillac. Loads of crème de cassis, cedar wood and graphite jump from the glass as well as burning embers and scorched earth. It is deep, rich, full-bodied, layered and impressive. Production is about 225 cases. This wine was given the same élevage of 75% Darnajou barrels and 25% Taransaud barrels.
Sadly, there will only be five barrels of the 2014 The Vineyardist. Sometimes that's just the way it goes in hillside sites. As for the wine, it is once again special. An exotic mélange of graphite, smoke, lavender, violets and licorice takes shape effortlessly. The 2014 possesses striking inner perfume and sweetness enshrouded by powerful tannins that suggest it will be slow to mature.