2015 Barrett & Barrett Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
From a drought vintage with limited yields, Barrett & Barrett's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon shows that extra concentration but also tannins that are impressively firm even after 10 years. Cedar, black olive and black cherry notes offer a strong first impression on the nose, but where this full-bodied, structured wine is headed is harder to ascertain. Attractive overtones of mocha and dusty earth feature on the lingering finish, so it's clear this wine has a future—perhaps it's just in a dumb/closed phase? Try checking in again in another five years.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The same 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc from their estate vineyard in Calistoga, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon has a similar bouquet of blackcurrants, toasted spices, smoke tobacco, and lead pencil, and despite coming from a hotter vintage than 2014, it has a slightly more Bordeaux’ish (Pauillac even) bouquet. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and layered on the palate, it has good acidity, notable tannic structure, and a great finish. A more classic, focused, structured wine than the more opulent 2014, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will shine over the following two decades.
Barrett & Barrett's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a heady, exotic wine that captures the essence of the personality of the year beautifully. Bittersweet chocolate, leather, blackberry jam and cedar infuse this dramatic, opulent Cabernet Sauvignon. Firm Calistoga tannins give the wine a striking sense of proportion. Potent and virile in feel, the 2015 needs a few years to settle down, but it is impressive.