After a five-year absence Martin Ray Winery returns to our pages with their fantastic 2013 Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon - a rich, bold, delicious and perfectly balanced wine.

We love Martin Ray wines, and so when the winery offered us this elite level Cabernet, we did not hesitate. We grabbed up as many cases as we could.

We’re only starting to see the 2013s, and wow are we impressed. The 2013 vintage has turned out to be tremendous - and today’s Martin Ray Winery 2013 Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best we’ve tried to date.

The fruit for this exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Napa Valley’s Diamond Mountain AVA, located in the northeast corner of Napa in the Mayacamas Mountains. This mountain fruit, grown in porous volcanic soil that drains well, enjoys greater exposure to sunlight. This results in berries that are more concentrated in both flavor and intensity. Only about 600 acres of vines are planted in the AVA’s 5,000 total acres.

Bold berry aromas jump from the glass, with blueberry, raspberry, cassis, and blackberry. These are followed by cured meats, toasty oak, mixed spice, dusty bramble, dark chocolate, blackberry candy and a hint of black pepper.

Dark, bold and juicy flavors are enmeshed with blackberry compote, plum jam, baker’s chocolate, dried fall leaves, black licorice, toasty oak, bramble, black pepper, cassis, subtle dried herbs, spice box and subtle tobacco.

This wine is a great solo-sipper (you’ll spend a long time, cataloging the long list of aromas, long before you take that first delicious sip), but we recommend pairing it with a grilled t-bone or a bowl of spicy summertime beef Chili.

Enjoy now, and lay a few bottles down for the next several years. We think that this wine will continue to progress for another decade - or more!

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Here’s what the wine press has to say:

95 points - James Suckling, January 2016 - “Breathtaking aromas of wet stones, blackberry and black currant follow through full body with seamless tannins that fill your mouth and last for minutes. Gorgeous wine. Why wait? But will age incredibly well.”

Remember, we offer FREE Temperature-Controlled shipping during the hot summer months. Add optional ice packs if your local area is hot, and your wine will arrive in great condition!

Contact us for more details.