Today’s Sterling Vineyards 2013 Sterling Vineyards Platinum Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the best of the best from this iconic Napa Valley winery. This wine is made from the finest grapes from the winery’s finest vineyard rows. This sexy beast is dark, layered, dense and delicious. Oh, and we will sell out, so…

Classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon on the nose, with bold blackberry jam, black cherry, blueberry, cassis, black licorice, pencil shavings, spice box, leather and black pepper. And on the palate? Now, this is Napa Cabernet at its finest! Flavors abound, with blackberry, cassis, blueberry, graphite, dark spice, plum, hard leather, black pepper, baker’s chocolate, and darkly toasted oak.

Though we’ve never had the good fortune to feature a Sterling wine in the past, we’re certainly familiar with the wine of winemaker Harry Hanson. His work is well known to us here at Wine Spies HQ.

Following graduation from the University of California Davis, where he received his Master’s in Enology, Harry went to work for Gloria Ferrer Caves in Sonoma, making sparkling wine, barrel fermented Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. In 2001, he moved to Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, where he quickly developed a reputation for innovation and consistently high quality in Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir. Under his leadership, Edna Valley Vineyard grew quickly, began production of Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Not content with this, Harry also revived Edna’s Reserve Wine program, making some exciting reserve quality Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Syrahs with innovative techniques and risk-taking winemaking. “It’s curiosity and a hunger to do something better, something new, that drives me. How can I better express the beauty of a vineyard site and flavor of the grapes in a glass of wine?”

Harry joined Sterling Vineyards and relocated to Napa Valley just before the 2011 Harvest. “The opportunity to join such a respected Napa Valley winery is exciting and a fantastic next step in my winemaking career. Sterling Vineyards is making some wonderful wines, and I look forward to taking that next step up in quality and reputation.”

With this remarkable wine, Harry secures a place in our spy hearts as one of winemaking’s great heroes. We hope that you are as enamored with today’s great wine as we are. If not, heck, we’ll buy it back from you and drink it ourselves!

Cheers!

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Here’s what the wine press has to say:

91 Points - James Suckling - ”This shows subtlety and finesse with berry, currant and chocolate character. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a clean finish. Polished red. Drink now or hold.”