Barrett & Barrett Wine
2014 Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga, Napa Valley
Barrett and Barrett, two renowned and distinct winemakers working together, finally, is really what this wine is all about. The result is a handcrafted, limited edition Napa Valley wine that reflects our two different, yet complementary, winemaking styles.
WINEGROWING
We hand select small sections of the very best grapes from our Calistoga vineyards, vine by vine. With 20 years of experience growing Cab at this vineyard, we know the most unique and special areas, which have the lowest yields, tiny berries & stressed vines to create the super-selected wine we desire. Our winemaking in the vineyard comes down to our personal selection of each vine and is carried through to impeccable detail in the winemaking.
2014 was in the middle of the infamous California drought. For us in coastal California, it was less impactful than the historical drought years of ’87-88, with better farming practices and water management keeping the vines in much better condition. Our vineyards performed really well in the 2014 season, the second consecutive dry year. The unusually early harvest expected after the early spring and dry conditions did not materialize. This we also credited to the timing of what little rain we did get in spring, so even the dry farmed vineyards looked really good all the way through to harvesting. It ended up with a normal starting time of the harvest, right around Sept. 1, and very well, with nice mild weather (no heat spikes or precipitation). The Cabernet for the Barrett & Barrett is located on steeper and exposed hillside vineyards and was all harvested in the first two weeks of September. These hand selected blocks showed the super concentration and tiny berries we expect from an exceptionally dry year. 2014 is very much a sunny vintage, with lots of ripeness, great concentration, and good flavor development from slow ripening. Fans of our 2012 and 2013 vintages will find a lot to appreciate here as well.
UPDATED TASTING NOTES
Tasted Feb 2023
Leading with very appealing berry-cherry aromas, the 2014 Barrett & Barrett Cab smells delicious and well-developed already, though it can definitely age quite a bit longer. The opulent and complex nose presents notes of plum, cocoa, cinnamon, peppercorn, and anise that seem to evolve with each sniff. On the palate, it is dense and rich, with a smooth texture, nice acidity, and integrated tannins leading into an impressively long finish. Very rewarding to drink this one now, though we think it will age another 20 years at least.
ORIGINAL TASTING NOTES
Tasted 11/30/17
The 2014 is deep dark ruby in color, almost black in the glass. It shows intense deep aromatics of concentrated blackberry, currants, lush toasty oak, and caramel. A bit of cocoa powder and spice. Across the palate it is compact and action packed, full of flavor, and everything needed for amazing ageability. An intensely opulent wine, with a rich layered texture and a long lingering finish. Tannins are refined and textural, offering wonderful structure for the perfectly ripe fruit. Lovely balance while very young for a wine of this style - will be even more stunning in a few years.
ACCOLADES
from Jeb Dunnuck:
95 points - Coming from the estate vineyard in Calistoga, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers a beautifully balanced, concentrated Cabernet that’s very much in the style of the vintage. Sweet crème de cassis, spiced blackcurrants, cedarwood, lead pencil, and subtle high-class oak all emerge from this deep, rich, full-bodied Cabernet that has terrific sweetness of fruit, nicely integrated acidity, sweet tannins, and a great finish. It takes air to show at its best, but it’s a complete, beautifully balanced 2014 to drink any time over the coming two decades of more.
from Antonio Galloni:
94 points - The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is quite understated in this vintage, with the mid-weight structure that is such a signature of this vintage very much on display. Even so, there is no shortage of character or complexity. Black cherry, chocolate, charcoal embers, espresso, leather, grilled herbs and licorice give the 2014 myriad shades of aromatic and flavor complexity. In the glass, the 2014 remains deceptive in its mid-weight feel and overall approachability, but it has plenty of muscle and gravitas, not to mention tons of personality.
OTHER VINTAGES
Vertical Collection 2008-2019
Current vintage: 2019
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon