2016 MacDonald Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon

America / California / Napa Valley / Oakville

¥206,600
JD 100
RP 98
V 97
Size:
Quantity:

Availability: 3

2016 MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA

MACDONALD is a partnership between brothers and fourth-generation Napa Valley grape growers, Graeme and Alex MacDonald. Graeme handles the winemaking and vineyard management while Alex is in charge of the business side.

Place:

The property is located within the historic To-Kalon Vineyard, a portion of which was purchased by our family in 1954, who planted the first vines on the property since prohibition.

The vineyard is 15 acres, planted exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon with vines aged 70 years (the original vines planted by our great-grandparents), 50 years (our grandparent’s block) and 30 years old vines planted by Robert Mondavi. Our family has preserved some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon plantings in the Napa Valley.

Located on the apex of a geologic feature called an alluvial fan, the subsoil consists of >90% gravel by volume making it the rockiest site in To-Kalon. The layered gravels create wines of characteristic power, richness and longevity.

We manage the vineyard ourselves with the care and attention to detail taught to us by our grandfather.

Wine:

We began experimenting to develop a unique winemaking style following the sale of the Robert Mondavi Winery in 2004. Our inaugural release of MACDONALD was the 2010 vintage (released in 2013).

We focus on making one wine composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from our 70, 50 and 30 years old vines.

Wine characteristics: Classically styled with black cherry, crème de cassis, black olive, lavender, graphite, pencil shavings, bittersweet chocolate, purity, freshness and balance with fine noble tannins and natural intensity.

Approximately 500 cases produced. We produce only the amount of wine we can make with our own hands.

JD 100

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is largely cut from the same cloth yet has just a touch more purity and elegance without sacrificing depth or richness. Just a magical wine any way you look at it, this deep purple-colored beauty reveals a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, camphor, purple iris, and violets. It’s full-bodied and massive, yet still just dances across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. While it’s already hard to resist today (and don’t feel bad for drinking a bottle), it has the purity, balance, and structure to keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to the brothers Alex and Graeme MacDonald for this legendary wine. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: January 2019. Drinking window: 2019 - 2054.
RP 98

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a relatively gravelly site compared to other parts of the To Kalon vineyard. Most of the fruit comes from vines aged 45 to 65 years old, with a little fruit coming from the younger section of 20-year-old vines. It was made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and no press wines were used, in order to maintain tannin quality. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant black cherries, warm cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate box notes with touches of aged meat, yeast extract, chargrill and sautéed herbs with hints of pain grille and pencil lead. Full-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, with beautifully balanced, crushed black fruits and firm, very finely grained tannins plus a lovely backbone of seamless freshness, finishing epically long and savory with a slight mineral kick to the finish. Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Issue date: September 2019. Drinking window: 2020 - 2050.
V 97

Vinous

(Rating 97+). I am every bit as enthusiastic about MacDonald's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon today as I was last year, when I tasted it from barrel. So many 2016s are silky and open-knit, but the 2016 here is unusually tightly wound and reticent. Gravel, creme de cassis, bittersweet chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol develop in the glass over time. The 2016 does not have a lot of the charm of so many wines, but that is probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. Today, the 2016 reminds me most of the 2014 because of its mid-weight structure and sinewy tannins. Time in the glass brings out a more red-toned and floral profile, but the 2016 is not going to be anywhere ready to drink for a number of years. The only question is how many. Readers who can find the 2016 should not hesitate, as it is superb. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, Issue date: October 2018. Drinking window: 2024 - 2041.

For INTERNATIONAL shipping, click HERE.

We ship within the United States to:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.

FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE: We provide FREE carrier insurance for lost or damaged shipments (per carrier terms and conditions.)

FREE WINE STORAGE: We provide FREE 6 Months wine cellar storage from date of purchase. Please choose this option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping for a later date.

SHIPPING: During warm summer weather, we recommend to only ship within the United States with Same Day or Next Day Air service to protect the wines from environmental damage. If you would like to waive this protection by shipping Ground, we will request a waiver be signed.

PACKAGING: Our premium wines need optimal temperature consistency, therefore are packaged in EPS foam shippers with gel pack (when needed) and shipped only during ideal weather temperatures.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, wine bottles will be removed from case and shipped inside a foam shipper box for safety (unless otherwise requested). The wooden case will be shipped separately at Ground service. If faster service is necessary please contact us.

WEATHER HOLD: In adverse temperature conditions, we reserve the right to withhold shipment until ideal temperatures return unless we receive explicit instructions via email to release the wines, voiding any guarantee. We will contact you if a hold is necessary.

FULFILLMENT: Shipments are via UPS.

  • Orders received Monday - Thursday before 2:00 p.m. will typically ship the same day.
  • Orders received Thursday 2:00 p.m. ~ Sunday will ship on Monday.

DELIVERY:

  • Same Day service within Los Angeles Metro area may be available if order is placed before noon, but not guaranteed. Please contact us directly at (626)714-7006 to facilitate expedited service.
  • During extreme temperatures, all shipments are recommended for Next Day Air.

Adult Signature: By law, all shipments of alcohol must be received and authorized by an adult. Our delivery carriers will not release packages without an adult signature and additional charges may be incurred if the package requires withholding or redirection.

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We ship within the United States to: Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), and Wyoming (WY).

  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
JD 100

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is largely cut from the same cloth yet has just a touch more purity and elegance without sacrificing depth or richness. Just a magical wine any way you look at it, this deep purple-colored beauty reveals a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, camphor, purple iris, and violets. It’s full-bodied and massive, yet still just dances across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. While it’s already hard to resist today (and don’t feel bad for drinking a bottle), it has the purity, balance, and structure to keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to the brothers Alex and Graeme MacDonald for this legendary wine. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: January 2019. Drinking window: 2019 - 2054.
RP 98

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a relatively gravelly site compared to other parts of the To Kalon vineyard. Most of the fruit comes from vines aged 45 to 65 years old, with a little fruit coming from the younger section of 20-year-old vines. It was made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and no press wines were used, in order to maintain tannin quality. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant black cherries, warm cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate box notes with touches of aged meat, yeast extract, chargrill and sautéed herbs with hints of pain grille and pencil lead. Full-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, with beautifully balanced, crushed black fruits and firm, very finely grained tannins plus a lovely backbone of seamless freshness, finishing epically long and savory with a slight mineral kick to the finish. Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Issue date: September 2019. Drinking window: 2020 - 2050.
V 97

Vinous

(Rating 97+). I am every bit as enthusiastic about MacDonald's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon today as I was last year, when I tasted it from barrel. So many 2016s are silky and open-knit, but the 2016 here is unusually tightly wound and reticent. Gravel, creme de cassis, bittersweet chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol develop in the glass over time. The 2016 does not have a lot of the charm of so many wines, but that is probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. Today, the 2016 reminds me most of the 2014 because of its mid-weight structure and sinewy tannins. Time in the glass brings out a more red-toned and floral profile, but the 2016 is not going to be anywhere ready to drink for a number of years. The only question is how many. Readers who can find the 2016 should not hesitate, as it is superb. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, Issue date: October 2018. Drinking window: 2024 - 2041.

2016 MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA

MACDONALD is a partnership between brothers and fourth-generation Napa Valley grape growers, Graeme and Alex MacDonald. Graeme handles the winemaking and vineyard management while Alex is in charge of the business side.

Place:

The property is located within the historic To-Kalon Vineyard, a portion of which was purchased by our family in 1954, who planted the first vines on the property since prohibition.

The vineyard is 15 acres, planted exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon with vines aged 70 years (the original vines planted by our great-grandparents), 50 years (our grandparent’s block) and 30 years old vines planted by Robert Mondavi. Our family has preserved some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon plantings in the Napa Valley.

Located on the apex of a geologic feature called an alluvial fan, the subsoil consists of >90% gravel by volume making it the rockiest site in To-Kalon. The layered gravels create wines of characteristic power, richness and longevity.

We manage the vineyard ourselves with the care and attention to detail taught to us by our grandfather.

Wine:

We began experimenting to develop a unique winemaking style following the sale of the Robert Mondavi Winery in 2004. Our inaugural release of MACDONALD was the 2010 vintage (released in 2013).

We focus on making one wine composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from our 70, 50 and 30 years old vines.

Wine characteristics: Classically styled with black cherry, crème de cassis, black olive, lavender, graphite, pencil shavings, bittersweet chocolate, purity, freshness and balance with fine noble tannins and natural intensity.

Approximately 500 cases produced. We produce only the amount of wine we can make with our own hands.

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