Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon

Romazini: 3/5 Stars

Dense purple. Intense nose, concentrated, multilayered blue and black berries and licorice. Silky tannins, raspberry, elder and blueberry notes. long finish.

The Winespectator: 88/100 Points

Taut and savory, with dill, plum and black cherry fruit that's firm and complex. Builds depth and density, and firming on the finish. Drink now through 2017. 38,450 cases made

Robert Parker: 87/100 Points

Vintage 2006: The finest of this trio is the very good 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder. It reveals floral notes intermixed with notions of blue fruits and lead pencil shavings in an elegant, medium-bodied style. Drink it over the next 6-10 years.

I still have some 1984 Hess Collection Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon in my cellar that is drinking beautifully, but it has been a long time since they have made wines of that quality. They seem to have settled on a middle-of-the-road, safe formula for turning out wines that are pleasant, but largely one-dimensional and uninspiring.

The Winemaker

The aroma is concentrated and starts out with ripe fruit expressions of cassis and black cherry. Classic varietal characters of earth, cedar, and spice bring complexity. In the mouth, the wine reveals additional flavors of blackberry and dark chocolate richly framed with ripe mountain tannins. The structure of this wine suggests improvement over the next ten to fifteen years.