Barnett 2023 "Rattlesnake Hill" Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

95+ Points - limited                          
One of highest-scoring Cabernets of the stellar 2014 vintage - limited.

96 Points Robert Parker: "The pinnacle of the range at Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake Estate Bottled. It's the most concentrated of the various bottlings, accenting black cherries, cassis and raspberry notes with hints of crushed stone and pencil shavings. Full-bodied and firm but approachable, it's a classic mountain Cabernet with two decades of potential longevity...

...Hal and Fiona Barnett purchased their 40-acre Spring Mountain property in 1983; the first vintage was 1989. The property lies at approximately 2,000 feet above sea level, above the usual fog line, planted in a series of terraced blocks to accommodate the steep contours of the site. With 14 acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, yields average less than two tons per acre. The winery is near the top of the property, with caves extending back into the mountain. Since the 2020 Glass Fire, which destroyed numerous vines and the tasting platform—the winery itself and most of the vines were saved—the site now offers expansive views over Napa Valley.

With the founders still in charge, a second generation joining the team this year (daughter Stephanie Barnett Rehrmann) and longtime Winemaker and General Manager David Tate heading up operations, Barnett seems well positioned for the future. To supplement the estate offerings, the winery has a long history of sourcing grapes from outside Napa and pricing those wines at lower levels. There's a Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek, two Chardonnays from the Sonoma side of Carneros and a Pinot Noir from the Green Valley of Russian River Valley.

All of the winery's offerings are consistently well made, at prices that reflect long-term ownership, a commitment to taking care of existing customers and a lack of corporate overhead. While the top offerings—the MMV and Rattlesnake Cabernet Sauvignons—are limited and allocated, the rest of the lineup is reasonably well distributed and well worth trying."