2014 Promontory Napa Valley Red Wine California Red

2014 Promontory Napa Valley Red Wine

100 VM

Featured Review

I knew it was only a matter of time before Davide Cilli would make a wine at Promontory that would represent the maximum expression of this rugged hillside site. The 2014 Promontory has been exceptional in the past, but it has also gained another gear or two over the last year, which is pretty much now standard for these wines. Stunningly delineated and precise, with tremendous purity and exceptional balance, the 2014 Promontory dazzles from start to finish. This is an especially translucent style, one that is more about persistence and balance than power alone. Stated simply, the 2014 Promontory is towering achievement from one of Napa Valley's most talented young winemakers. Kudos to the Harlan family and the winegrowing team led by Bob Levy and Cory Empting for creating the framework that allowed Cilli to craft this exquisite, riveting Cabernet Sauvignon. Vinous Media

Vinous (Galloni) | 100 VM

This is a red with such incredible depth and beauty with a tannin structure that just melts into the glass. It’s full body, yet extremely tense and perfectly succent. Hints of bitter lemon, cedar and dark berry. Pine needle and spice with fresh mushroom. It’s reserved and wonderful. Tension and focus. First vintage aged in all cask. Impressive now but one for the cellar. New classic for Napa. Better after 2022.

James Suckling | 99 JS

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Promontory bursts from the glass with bold, brazen notions of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries, wild blueberries and redcurrant jelly with a compelling perfume of rose hip tea, sandalwood, unsmoked cigars and dried lavender. Full-bodied, super intense and yet wonderfully ethereal, it has a firm line of very fine-grained tannins, tons of freshness and incredibly vibrant, crunchy fruit, finishing long with bags of energy.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RP

Starting with the 2014 Promontory, this is a riveting wine in the vintage and will unquestionably be one of the longest-lived as well. Sporting a saturated purple color as well as a rock star nose of ripe blue fruits, crushed rocks, graphite, and leaf pencil, this monster of a wine hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, building tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a finish that won’t quit. Where most 2014s are already accessible and charming, this needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will be a 40- to 50-year wine.

Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JD

There's real exuberance on the nose in this new-release 2014, with splendid yet fresh blackcurrant aromas and considerable elegance too. Rich and full-bodied, but the wine's weight and volume are refined by the fine-grained tannins. Compared to other vintages, this shows moderate acidity but has density and force. Polished and very long. Drinking Window 2020 - 2040.

Decanter | 95 DEC

Lush and forward in feel, with alluring steeped plum and blackberry reduction flavors, lined with singed alder, tobacco and sage hints. Picks up a lovely warm gravel note, while the fruit keeps the upper hand on the extremely long, smoldering finish, showing greater depth and structure as it moves through. Best from 2021 through 2034. 1,785 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.