2016 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Washington Red

2016 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

96 RP

Featured Review

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, instantly commands the attention of the drinker. It is generous on the nose, showcasing a dense, chewy core of fruit, exuding bold yet elegant expressions of blackberries, blackcurrant, red cherry and dark, dusty plum. Medium to full-bodied, the palate sings with subtle baking spices—cinnamon and cardamom—and vanilla tones with a complexity that lifts the mid-palate. The focus and purity are captured effortlessly here, ending with a long, drawn-out finish that continues to evolve on the aftertaste well after the wine has left the palate. This bottling deserves to be on your dinner table or in your cellar. It's a stellar wine that delivers pleasure with the purity of expression. 200 cases produced. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 96 RP

Slow, savory, deliberate, this cabernet from Gramercy suggests a kind of old-vine savor and reserve—in part at least. Fifty percent of this wine comes from Bacchus Vineyard, where Greg Harrington draws from vines planted in 1972. But the pulse of this wine likely comes from Phinny Hill, above Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, a cool, windswept site producing vibrant fruit. The result is a wine about leather and fruit leather, about fruit intensity without extract or juiciness, just cool savory reserve and lasting stature. Over three days the wine did not so much open as mature, becoming more elegant while seeming no less reserved. It offers old-vine restraint for an aged ribeye. (316 cases)

Wine & Spirits | 95 W&S

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a smaller production release based on 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot that spent 22 months in 40% new oak. Slightly deeper ruby/purple-hued, with a great nose of ripe blackberry and cassis fruits intermixed with lots of cedary spice, orange blossom, and floral notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. Coming from the Bacchus, Phinny Hill, and Loess vineyards, it’s going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and evolve for over two decades.

Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JD

Full ruby-red. Crushed blackberry, cassis and minerals on the nose, plus a pungent note of black pepper. Seamless and bright on entry, then utterly smooth in the energetic middle palate, with flavors of black fruits, fruity peppercorn, licorice and graphite given a tightly coiled spring by firm acidity. A classic of its slow-ripening vintage, this very intense, backward wine finishes with serious but utterly suave tannins and slowly mounting floral persistence. A bit more peppery and less spicy than the 2015 release but with terrific energy and similar quality. If anything, this '16 tightened up with extended aeration. Lay it down for at least a few years.

Vinous Media | 93+ VM

This wine is a blend of Cabernet from Bacchus Vineyard in the White Bluffs and Phinny Hill in the Horse Heaven Hills. Forward aromas of dark coffee bean, milk chocolate, dried and fresh herbs, barrel spice and dark cherry are followed by initially light, well-balanced fruit flavors that ramp up in depth and intensity over time. A tight coil of tannins holds it all together. This one will require some patience but has all the stuffing to go the distance and then some. Best after 2025 with a long life beyond that.

Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

Type of Wine	Washington Red
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon : It is recognized worldwide, referred to as “king of grapes” and has easily become the most popular grape variety in the world. Cabernet Sauvignon has seemingly taken the world by storm. It has seen exponential growth and popularity in American and around the world over the past thirty years. The phrase “Cabernet is king,” is a common maxim in the world of wine. Cabernet Sauvignon wine has become so popular that when being referred to can be recognized by simple slang, such as “Cab” or “Cabernet. It might appear simple, straightforward and easily understood; yet, interestingly remains an enigma, which has both baffled and excited oenologists since its discovery. The exact origin and circumstances of this world-altering event are still enigmatic; however, at the end of the 20th century, UC Davis Scientists (John Bowers and Carole Meredith) were able to solve part of the mystery using DNA fingerprinting technology that proved Cabernet Sauvignon to be the offspring of a surprising spontaneous crossing of Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. By the 18th century there were already records of Cabernet Sauvignon being well-established on the west side of the Gironde Estuary (Left Bank) in the Medoc and Graves. Although tremendously popular in California and what seems to have become the identity of Napa Valley winemaking, Cabernet Sauvignon’s birth took place in the Bordeaux region of southwest France by fortuitous unification. Whereas Napa Valley experienced a winemaking renaissance during the 1970’s and 1980s (greatly due to the 1976 Judgement of Paris) quality wine from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape has been produced in the Medoc, on the Left Bank of Bordeaux for over 400 years. Cabernet Sauvignon’s first recorded plantings in California can be traced back to the 1850’s when Antoine Delmas, a French nurseryman, brought French vines (including one called ‘Cabrunet’) to the Santa Clara Valley. Early cultivation suffered due to obscurity of the varietal and improper planting in inhospitable soil. It wasn’t until pioneers such as Robert Mondavi, Randy Dunn and Warren Winiarski with their amazing foresight and understanding of terroir, would the grape variety finally find its niche in California winemaking. Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in warm climates moderated by a cooling marine influence. It is perfectly attuned to gravel-based soils with good drainage. Whether on flat land or a hillside, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape flourishes in proper climates and terroir, producing incredible yields. The thick grapevine is extremely vigorous allowing it to exploit its natural host. Its distinctive small, black berries (reminiscent of blueberries) adhere firmly to the stalk and are capable of a very long “hang time.” These berries are extremely concentrated, producing intensely flavored fruit. The thick skins of the grape are characterized as having highly astringent flavor, high tannin, acidity and dark color. Coincidentally, the variety has a special affinity for oak, which helps soften the bitterness. Today, the Noble Bordeaux varietal of Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on 340,000 hectares (741,300 acres) of vineyards across the earth’s surface. From Sicily to Sonoma, Chile to Bordeaux, South Africa to Napa. It has found symbiosis in terroir hotspots that mimic that of the Medoc and Napa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon’s globetrotting has allowed the grape variety to take root all over the world, captivating its inhabitants and influencing winemaking. This serendipitous marriage between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc centuries ago, which offered to the world its progeny, has changed the landscape of winegrowing, winemaking and the face of the entire wine market forever. It has influenced blending, changed civilization and has cultivated a place for itself in today’s world… the very pinnacle.
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	Washington : While California definitely owns the spotlight when it comes to excellent American wines, Washington winemakers should certainly not be underestimated. While their traditional focus was set firmly on refreshing, illustrious white wines, they've adopted French red varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, they've been achieving excellence in both categories and can compete with the world's most prestigious viticultural titans. Flavor-wise, you can expect a healthy amount of variety when it comes to Washington's finest wines. From acidic and fruity bottles that can shake you up from even the deepest slumber or sadness to rich and ripe powerhouses that command the respect of everyone in the room after as much as a single whiff. Juicy raspberries that gently tickle your tongue, deep and noble blackberries, intense cherries and earthen oak - these are the flavors that characterize this region, despite the presence of an entire orchestral symphony of other aromatic notes. A sampling of fine wine from Washington is a lot like being seduced, so why not uncork one of these bottles for a potential or existing partner? With a drink of this quality, those romantic sparks will turn into a fireworks display, as your emotions are laid bare and intensified, and you make a connection that can last a lifetime.