2015 Larkmead Vineyard LMV Salon Proprietary Red California Red

2015 Larkmead Vineyard LMV Salon Proprietary Red

98 WE

Featured Review

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc, this is a tremendous wine, offering grippy red-currant, tobacco and graphite components around a full-bodied core of weight and breadth. Powerful, with elegant leanings, it retains and celebrates much of the Cab Franc character in its unabashed embrace of dried herb, clove and violet. Enjoy best 2025–2030. Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast | 98 WE

A dense, powerful wine, the 2015 LMV Salon exudes class. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and leather fills out the wine's ample frame effortlessly. The 2015 is a big, rich wine that needs time to soften, but all the elements are in the right place. This is a decidedly virile, imposing wine, but time in the glass bring out the wine's aromatic dimension, which is heavily marked by the 40% Cabernet Franc in the blend.

Antonio Galloni | 95 AG

A dense and layered red with red tile, currants and hints of black peppers. Full-bodied and juicy with beautiful density and length. Granular tannins. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Needs two to three years to soften.

James Suckling | 95 JS

A blend of 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 LMV Salon is a cuvee that’s moving towards being a Cabernet Franc-dominated release as the estate plants more Cabernet Franc. Cassis, spring flowers, chocolate and a rocky, river bottom-like earthiness all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated, tannic 2015 that has exceptional purity and a great finish. Give bottle 3-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+.

Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JD

Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Lmv Salon Proprietary Red has an earthy, meaty, gamy nose with a crème de cassis and preserved plums core backed up by Christmas cake and new leather with a medicinal waft. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with firm, chewy tannins and a good core of fruit, it's just a bit astringent and closed at this youthful stage.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RP

A supple, charming medley of spicy red and dark berry fruit, with black cherry and wild berry flavors standing out. Ends with a rich, juicy aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 620 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 92 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.
Subregion	Napa Valley