An Oakville Stalwart’s phenomenal Cabernet buy
- 93 pts Wine Enthusiast93 pts WE
- Curated by unrivaled experts
- Choose your delivery date
- Temperature controlled shipping options
- Get credited back if a wine fails to impress
2021 Swanson Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml
Retail: $52 | ||
| $25 | 52% off | per bottle |
- Curated by unrivaled experts
- Choose your delivery date
- Temperature controlled shipping options
- Get credited back if a wine fails to impress
An Oakville Stalwart’s phenomenal Cabernet buy
Nestled between Opus One and Silver Oak for the last four decades, Swanson Vineyards is an institution. Their exceptional Cabernet is at every great steakhouse in America—and they’re making their best wines of all time right now.
In 2021, they had a first-rate vintage to work with. It was dry from the start—an auspicious development, since dry often means small, thick-skinned berries of fantastic concentration. As the warm and steady summer progressed, everyone in Napa Valley could tell that quality was going to be through the roof. “You could just feel the excitement all over the valley,” in the words of Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil.
Today, Swanson boasts the most talented winemaker in their history: Robin Akhurst. He got his start working for the legendary Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy and Two Hands in Australia’s Barossa Valley, before a connection led him to a coveted position working under Thomas Rivers Brown. From there, he spent four years running a custom-crush project for Nils Venge, the Napa legend dubbed “The King of Cabernet” and the first person in California to earn a perfect score from Robert Parker.
Akhurst was able to harness the stunning 2021 vintage to deliver a sumptuous wine, sporting a dark ruby core with a hint of purple. Plum, cherry and blackberry lead the way on the nose, with violet and lilac florals, graphite, and dark chocolate notes and a hint of tobacco spice. The palate is lush and muscular, with great structure, well-knit tannins, and a long-lasting finish.