2021 Titus Vineyards 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Titus knocked it out of the park with this bottling from their Ehlers Lane vineyard. The 2021 Estate Reserve is bold and beautifully layered, with inky richness and polished structure. Blueberry, black currant, and mulberry lead the charge, backed by dark espresso, cigar box spice, and a hint of lilac. The tannins are firm but refined, delivering serious cellar potential with a decadent finish of chocolate pot de crème, cassis, and toasty oak. A showstopper now with air, but it’s got the bones to evolve through 2041.
The story of Titus Vineyards begins when Lee Titus and his family came to California from Minnesota during the Depression. After graduating from Fresno State and serving in World War II, Lee attended medical school and became a radiologist. He would later meet and fall in love with Ruth Traverso, a North Beach native, and settle in Sonoma with their four sons. A wine enthusiast with an interest in Bordeaux, Lee began acquiring fifty acres in three separate parcels just north of St. Helena along the valley floor. The vineyard they bought in 1968 was originally planted to Mondeuse, Burger, and Golden Chasselas, along with other varietals not suited to the climate or commercial reality. Lee had the foresight to replant Bordeaux cultivars like Petit Verdot and Malbec, a decision that was incredibly prescient. Soon he began selling fruit to local wineries. Fast forward to 1990, when Lee’s son Phillip Corallo-Titus, now an accomplished winemaker entrusted to craft the wines of Chappellet, launched the Titus family label, and in 1997 his marine biologist brother Eric Titus joined the team as full-time viticulturist.
Decanter
Comes from a 4ha estate vineyard on Ehlers Lane, which is rife with large rocks. Aged in 85% new French oak, this is a barrel selection of their top lots. It is exquisite with high fashion and style, showcasing a rich bouquet of candied violets, black cherry, and blackberry fruits nuanced by blueberry and crème de cassis. Full-bodied and striking an excellent balance between perfectly pure, ripe blackberry and cherry fruit with a wealth of lavish baking spices notes, elegant graphite minerality, and polished tannins that resolve with a granularity through the long, refreshing finish. Buoyant from a firm spine of juicy acidity, this is absolutely one to cellar.
Wine Advocate
The inky-hued 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Family Estate Reserve utilizes fruit from a rocky outcropping off Ehler's Lane planted predominantly to clone 337, with a touch of Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak, it offers up classy notes of pencil shavings, vanilla and mocha alongside black cherries and cassis. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's velvety in texture, with a long, harmonious finish framed by softly dusty tannins. Approachable now, it should be better in five years or so and live for 20 or more.
Jeb Dunnuck
Lastly, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Family Estate Reserve is based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Malbec. It's a touch more focused and linear compared to the Imperatus, but I love the purity and precision in its cr me de cassis, espresso, classy oak, and spicy, floral aromatics. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with fine tannins and a seamless, layered mouthfeel, as well as ripe tannins, it's going to benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and evolve for 15 years with ease.
James Suckling
Aromas of red plums and ripe blackberries with sweet spices, orange peel, walnuts and wet earth. Full body. Beautiful texture and delicious fruit here with very fine, nicely integrated tannins. Compact and solid with a long finish. Try from 2026.