As has been the case for the last several vintages, Lail's 2022 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon draws largely on vineyard sources in Calistoga, Oakville and Stags Leap. Marked by intense black cherries and cassis, this full-bodied beauty is concentrated and velvety, finishing plush and long, while showing no chocolaty over-ripeness or dried fruit at all. Even if it appears to lack the polished structure and potential longevity of the 2021, it remains a luscious calling card for soul-satisfying Napa Valley Cabernet.

In 2022, the J. Daniel Cuvée is remarkably approachable right at the pull of the cork. Briary blackberry and cedarwood lift from the glass, leading to a full-bodied palate where robust tannins build with intensity, only to melt away gracefully. As the wine unfolds, layers of sage, dried thyme, and black currant emerge, framed by graphite minerality and dried violets that carry through the expressive, lingering finish—a powerful yet refined Napa Cabernet with immediacy and depth.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée is creamy and resonant in the glass. Racy dark red fruit, cedar, licorice and new leather are super-attractive. Like so many wines in this vintage, the J. Daniel Cuvée is on the understated, slender side, but its balance is beyond reproach. I would drink this while letting some of the more structured vintages age in the cellar.