VERY LIMITED
 
96 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Always the best of all of them is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve, which in this vintage is a blend of 62% from their Howell Mountain holdings, 22% from St. Helena, 7% from Spring Mountain, 7% from Mt. Veeder and the rest from other sources. Only 7,383 cases were made of this blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. The wine has an inky purple color, a big, sweet kiss of pen ink, graphite, cedar wood, licorice, blackberries and blackcurrants with some background oak, but it’s dominated by the fruit extract and the full-bodied richness and glycerin this wine possesses. The texture is open and lush, and the wine more forward and sexy than the 2013 was at a similar stage of development. It should drink well for 20-25 years, as these wines have an impeccable track record of ageability.
 
96 Points from James Suckling
Aromas of blueberry and blackberry character. Hints of dark fruit, violets and stones. Full-bodied, powerful and dense with beautiful fruit concentration and silky tannins. Shows reserve and finesse with structure. Better in 2021.
 
94 Points Wine Enthusiast
This famous wine lives up to its name, showing tart cherry on entry, followed by a thick midpalate of sage, cedar and tobacco. Lightly spiced in white pepper and clove, it has an underlying elegance that needs time to overcome the youthful, grippy aspects of the tannins. Enjoy 2024–2029.
 
Winemaker Notes
Open and approachable, with soft and silky tannins, this expression of Private Reserve shows plenty of dark fruit aromas and flavors, with blueberry, blackberry and black cherry much in evidence alongside aromas of violets, licorice and evident oak spice. Wonderful upon release, the wine will reward patient aging for many years.