Unbelievably Good Cab 2014 Stony Hill Napa Cab
Posted on: 07/27/18 12:00 PM
One of our favorites of the summer, the 2014 Napa Cabernet from Stony Hill is outrageously good. While many of counterparts in $60-$70 Napa Cab feel almost goofy with their exaggerated oak and cartoonish ripe flavors, Stony Hill has adhered to the tried and true old school philosophy of poise and elegance. Even more impressive is that the 2014 vintage marks only their 6th vintage for their cabernet (and their best yet), yet it feels like they have been doing this forever.
It is no coincidence that 2014, a beloved vintage famous for its striking rich energy and aromatic galore, is Stony Hill’s best. The Old World charms of finesse and balance from 2014 have elevated Stony Hill’s inherent delicacy and restraint to sublime heights.
Fred and Eleanor McCrea first came across the property that would become Stony Hill Vineyard in the early 1940s. By 1943, they had made the rugged hillside spot on Spring Mountain their home. The first Stony Hill harvest came in 1952, and the wine was snatched up quickly by family and friends. By 1954, every bottle was sold via mailing list, with a waiting list growing by the day. Eleanor ran the business end of things and Fred made the wine, developing Stony Hill’s signature restrained style and minimalist approach. Upon Fred’s death in 1977, his assistant and protégé, Mike Chelini, picked up the winemaking mantle and has carried on Stony Hill’s winemaking tradition for now over forty years.
Famous by critics and collectors for their extraordinary old-school Chardonnay, we were caught by surprise by how much we loved this bottle. It’s a beautifully restrained, ultra-classical cab that has a ton of potential for the cellar. I’m not joking when I say this easily outclasses other Napa cab’s that are in $100 plus camp, easy. Lord have mercy!
2014 Stony Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Tim’s Tasting Note: A beautiful, elegant expression of Napa cabernet. Intense pure layers of dark raspberry, cherry and herbs, with slight savory undertone. Impressive tension, soft but inviting tannin, eye-popping structure and delicacy. Tastes amazing now, but can’t wait for some age on this.
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