LAIL VINEYARDS BLUEPRINT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1.5L 2021

From partners Robin Daniel Lail, Erin Lail, and Shannon Lail, this blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Petit Verdot is sourced from vineyards in Coombsville, Rutherford, Yountville, Calistoga, Howell Mountain, Oakville, and Stags Leap District. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak and crafted by Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky. A heady blast of toasty cedarwood is accompanied by green tobacco, coffee beans, and huckleberry notes with a hint of dill. Full-bodied and richly layered with juicy plum, blackberry, and black cherry fruits. A panoply of fine-grained tannins are super compact and assertive, offering a real sense of structure. A bright pop of the kind of tangy, citrusy acidity that comes from crushed cocoa nibs resonates through the long, scorched earth and herb finish.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint comes from multiple vineyards across the Napa Valley but draws most heavily upon Rutherford. The separate lots are blended after approximately 12 months in barrel, then allowed to marry for a few months prior to bottling. Fruit-forward scents of blueberries, cassis and black cherries mark the nose, while the balanced, medium to full-bodied palate is silky, fine and elegant, with just the right amount of ripe, savory tannins on the finish. In the context of Napa Valley Cabernet, it's a terrific value.