Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Reviews
2019 Malk Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvginon
Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
Reviews
• James Suckling, 91 points
Nicely sweet blueberries, blackberries and some violets on the nose. Medium-to full bodied palate, showing tart black cherries before a lengthy finish. Drink or hold.
• Jeb Dunnock, 90 points
Lots of red and black fruits, loamy earth, and some spicy nuances all emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, a ripe, plush, rounded, medium to full-bodied effort from the Stags Leap District. With solid mid-palate depth and plenty of background oak, it should evolve for 10–12 years, if not longer.
• Robert Parker (Joe Czerwinski) – Wine Advocate , 92 points
Soft, luscious oak — cinnamon streusel and vanilla — join black cherries on the nose of Malk’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District. It’s less sweet on the medium to full-bodied palate, where some ripe tannins give it a more savory cast, then finish as a soft, dusty coating. It appears to be a wine that may best be enjoyed in its youth.
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2018 Malk Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvginon
Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
Reviews
• Matthew Luczy – Decanter, 90 points
A soil-forward nose of tarweek, sun-warmed stones and dried sage. Ripe but refined on the palate, successfully showing off the finesse typical of Stags Leap District. The finish wraps up similarly to how the nose introduced the wine, with a stony, gritty and rustic minerality.
• Antonio Galloni, 94 points
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is another gorgeous wine from Malk, a small estate in Stags Leap that continues to improve. Inky dark fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and white flowers all open in the glass. Deep and pliant, with striking aromatic intensity, the 2018 is a winner.
• Jeb Dunnock, 90 points
Coming from the cooler Stags Leap District, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a deep purple color as well as vibrant aromatics of blue fruits, sappy green herbs, violets, and cedar. With medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, elegant texture, and nicely integrated tannins, this is an outstanding, well-made Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the coming 10-12 years or so.
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2017 Malk Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvginon
Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
Reviews
• Antonio Galloni, 93 points
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, sumptuous wine loaded with Stags Leap character. Inky red and purplish fruit, wild flowers, lavender, mint and cinnamon all race out of the glass. Rich and fleshy with terrific resonance as well as persistence, the 2017 is very nicely done. This is an especially exuberant style for Malk, where the wines have usually been a bit more laid-back, but it works. I would give the 2017 a few years in bottle to shed some baby fat.
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No Longer Available
2016 Malk Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvginon
Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
Reviews
• James Suckling, 92 points
A bold array of blackberries and cassis with a smoothly arrayed, ripe and even-paced fruit core that holds plenty of flesh into the finish. Drink or hold.
• Antonio Galloni, 93 points
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine I have tasted from Malk. Dark, pliant and inviting, with terrific fruit purity, the 2016 is very nicely balanced. Dark cherry, plum, violet, spice and menthol all run through this plump, juicy Stags Leap Cabernet. Silky tannins add to the wine's considerable appeal and immediacy. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.
• Robert Parker, 91 points
Deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a very earthy nose with tree bark, black soil and truffles with tea and thyme plus a core of cassis and baked plums. The full-bodied palate is firm, chewy and earthy with a savory finish.
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2015 Malk Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvginon
Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
Reviews
• Antonio Galloni, 92 points
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is the first wine I have tasted from Malk that has real depth, density and textural richness, not to mention the pedigree that is such a signature of Cabernets from this sector of Stags Leap. Blue/purplish stone fruit, lavender, spice and menthol are all pushed forward. Silky, sensual and polished, the 2015 will drink well upon release. Consulting winemaker Robbie Meyer has done a terrific job here.
• Jeb Dannuck, 91 points
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is solid, offering lots of chocolate dark fruits, dried earth, graphite and spice. It's medium to full-bodied, nicely textured, has loads of fruit and a charming style. Drink it over the coming decade or more.
• James Suckling, 91 points
Aromas of currants, herbs, mint and spearmint follow through to a full body, round and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2019.
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2013 Malk Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvginon
Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
Reviews
• Robert Parker, 94 points
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon has slightly more opaque purple color than the 2012, beautiful bluer-fruit characteristics, with black raspberries, blueberries, slightly more concentration and greater materials. Nevertheless, it's full-bodied and capable of 15 or more years of aging potential with its terrific purity and symmetry. This is a sleeper producer, and I'm happy to have tested them.
• James Suckling, 91 points
An attractive red with currant, blueberry and toasted oak character. Hints of walnuts too. Full-bodied, round and silky. Delicious finish.
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2012 Malk Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvginon
Stags Leap District of Napa Valley
Reviews
• Robert Parker, 91 points
A very impressive 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Malk Family Vineyards, both this vintage and the subsequent 2013 spent 20 months in 75% new French oak. The color is a dense ruby/purple, the wine shows plenty of classic creme de cassis, Christmas fruitcake and spice box. It has pure flavors, a full-bodied mouthfeel, but sweet tannin and a long, layered mouthfeel. This is impressive and realistically priced. Moreover, it should drink well for another 10-15 years.
• James Suckling, 90 points
A full and rich red with sweet plum and berry character. Round tannins and a flavorful finish. A little jammy. But still outstanding quality. Drink now.
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