Vice Versa 2016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes

The wine is crafted from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, offering a pure expression of the flagship grape. The fruit is sourced from an elite roster of vineyards spanning diverse elevations in St. Helena, Yountville, Oakville, and Pritchard Hill (including prestigious parcels like Stagecoach and Las Piedras). To extract the maximum structural and aromatic potential of the harvest, the liquid was aged for 20 months in 65% new French oak barrels.

This deeply concentrated, purple-black colored red wine showcases the power and precision of the spectacular 2016 Napa vintage. The bouquet opens with explosive aromas of blackcurrant cordial, plum preserves, and blackberry compote mingled with subtle layers of mocha, licorice, lavender, unsmoked tobacco, and fertile loam. On the decadent, full-bodied palate, it unloads rich, hedonistic flavors of chocolatey blackberry, bitter dark chocolate, toasted herbs, and sweet cassis. Its massive texture is underpinned by ripe, grainy tannins and a buoyant acidity that balances the heavy mid-palate, culminating in a seamless, exceptionally long finish marked by lingering mineral sparks of scorched earth and gravel.

The significant structural density, opulent oak integration, and muscular tannin profile of this Napa Cabernet require substantial, fat-marbled dishes to soften its grip. It pairs exquisitely with rich meats like a charred prime ribeye steak, slow-roasted venison, pan-seared duck breast with a cassis reduction, or braised beef short ribs. The wine's underlying savory herbal notes, unsmoked tobacco, and forest floor undertones make it a beautiful match for earth-driven dishes like a wild mushroom risotto or black truffle pasta. For a cheese pairing, choose deeply savory, long-aged varieties like Gouda, sharp white cheddar, or Parmigiano-Reggiano, which echo the wine's built-in hints of toasted mocha and dark cocoa.

Critical Acclaim

95 Points from Jeb Dunnuck

95+Points from Robert Parker

The 2016 Vice Versa Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon achieved widespread critical acclaim upon release, reinforcing the estate's reputation for producing top-tier, collector-grade Napa reds. Renowned critic Jeb Dunnuck awarded the vintage a stellar 95-point score, characterizing it as full-bodied, powerful, and remarkably seamless. Dunnuck lauded its classic aromatic profile of scorched earth, cassis, and blackcurrants, noting that its elegant structure ensures exceptional cellaring potential. Lisa Perrotti-Brown similarly bestowed a 95+ point rating for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, heavily praising its decadent flavor profile, which erupts with black currant, chocolate, plum jam, and smoky cedar. 

750ml