2013 Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon Boulder Falls Knights Valley 750 ml

Belongs in the Cellar of Any Serious Collector

In the unforgettable 2013 vintage, Delectus Winery slammed it out of the park, releasing three cuvées that earned 95 points or more from Robert Parker. “Kudos to Delectus for making wines that ultimately will prove the magnificent aging potential of what they’re doing in Knights Valley,” declared Parker, who then awarded 95+ points to this huge, muscular 2013 Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon. A “blockbuster … with enormous extract, massive body, and richness,” this bottle belongs in the cellar of every serious California Cabernet collector.

In his explosive 2013 vintage report, entitled “The Game Changer,” Parker wrote: “2013 may turn out to be the finest vintage I have experienced in tasting North Coast varietals over the last 37 years.” He predicted it might become one of the most epic and awesome vintages ever produced by the North Coast of California. With each passing year, the truth of that prophecy becomes more and more evident. A miraculous anomaly, the 2013 growing season only saw temperatures rise above 100 in the last two weeks of June. Daytime highs rarely exceeded 90 degrees, even as nighttime lows dipped into the low 50s. The small-berry clusters, ripened to perfect phenolic maturity, were loaded with sugar and infused with firmer acids and riper tannins than even 2007.

One of the most esteemed wineries of the Knights Valley AVA, Delectus is home to 42 acres of vines perched on 112 acres of rocky slopes just above the valley and fog line. Reaching up to 2,200 feet in elevation, the site benefits from a moderate microclimate and a southerly aspect where abundant sunlight makes for supercharged ripening. The result in 2013 was a monumental effort, cellaring effortlessly for another 10-20 years — a potent and voluptuous testimonial to the greatest North Coast vintage in a lifetime.