2022 Lail Vineyards 'Blueprint' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
A vibrant tribute to innovation and sustainability, the 2022 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon delivers deep garnet hues and enticing aromas of black cherry, Bing cherry, and boysenberry. The palate layers blue and red fruits with cocoa, black olive, and sage, showcasing a rich yet fresh energy. Crafted by Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky, this finely balanced wine is approachable now yet built to impress, reflecting the resilience of the 2022 vintage. Celebrate a commitment to excellence and the planet with every sip.
It’s not hard to figure out why Robin Daniel Lail is making some of the most elite wines in the Napa Valley. She’s had some time to prepare. Not only did she grow up looking over her father John Daniel’s shoulder in Inglenook Winery in Rutherford, she worked for Robert Mondavi for 5 years, then in 1982, she co-founded Dominus with Christian Moueix, and in 1983, co-founded Merryvale Vineyards with Bill Harlan, where she served as President for ten years. She founded Lail in 1995. We call that a track record. Lail’s winemaker is Philippe Melka, one of the finest winemakers in our little sylvan valley, not to mention the world. He’s worked for Lail since the beginning, not to mention Dominus Estate in Rutherford and Château Petrus in Pomerol. Not exactly a lightweight, as they say.
DC95
Decanter
Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak and crafted by Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky. A heady blast of toasty cedarwood is accompanied by green tobacco, coffee beans, and huckleberry notes with a hint of dill. Full-bodied and richly layered with juicy plum, blackberry, and black cherry fruits. A panoply of fine-grained tannins are super compact and assertive, offering a real sense of structure. A bright pop of the kind of tangy, citrusy acidity that comes from crushed cocoa nibs resonates through the long, scorched earth and herb finish.
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Wine Advocate
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint comes from multiple vineyards across the Napa Valley but draws most heavily upon Rutherford. The separate lots are blended after approximately 12 months in barrel, then allowed to marry for a few months prior to bottling. Fruit-forward scents of blueberries, cassis and black cherries mark the nose, while the balanced, medium to full-bodied palate is silky, fine and elegant, with just the right amount of ripe, savory tannins on the finish. In the context of Napa Valley Cabernet, it's a terrific value.
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Wine Enthusiast
Baked fruits and toasty oak aromas lead to richly layered blackberries, blueberries and cocoa in this full-bodied and warmly tannic wine. Aged in 50-% new French barrels, it is well structured for aging and has the concentration to match. Best from 2028-2038
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