TASTING NOTES: We harvested our 2022
estate grapes before the intense heat spike that hit the Napa Valley over Labor
Day, so we preserved the delicate red fruit character and floral aromatics that
would have burned off. This 2022 blend is soft, elegant, refined and absolutely
delicious. A beautiful wine that leads with fresh red fruit then seduces you
with layers of currants, dried herbs, shaved dark chocolate, baking spices,
graphite, and worn leather. So pleasant and silky on the palate with that
flagship "liquid cashmere" quality we all dream about. A firm and focused,
age-worthy style. Showing great concentration and complexity that will continue
to evolve and benefit from a few years of cellar aging. Another beautiful
mountain gem from the estate at VIADER. Drink over the next 10+ years. Age for
at least 5 years to reach its peak drinking window.
64% Cabernet Sauvignon & 36% Cabernet Franc
Owen Bargreen (97 pts)
The
brilliant 2022 Viader Red Wine has a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%)
and more Cabernet Franc (36%) than the '21 bottling. A total gem, this needs
about an hour in the decanter to really get moving. Anise and wet rock mark the
nose alongside dark chocolate shavings, sweet pipe tobacco, violets and shades
of yellow bell pepper. The palate has beautiful elegance as this glides
throughout the drinking experience, with firm tannins holding everything in
place. Loamy and rocky soils collide with dense blackberry and black cherry
flavors alongside shades of Black Forest cake. A total stunner, enjoy now and
over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2025-2049- 97 points
James Suckling (96 pts)
A beautiful, grand and finely structured wine that rises above the difficult 2022 vintage to show opulent fruit and spice with a balanced, powerful texture that will help it age and improve for decades. Seamless layers of oak, black cherries, dried blueberries, graphite, espresso and iron on a full body. Made from 64% cabernet sauvignon and 36% cabernet franc. Drinkable now but best from 2030. 96 points