2016 MacDonald Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon

America / California / Napa Valley  / Oakville

$1,195
JD 100
RP 98
V 97
Size:
Quantity:

Availability: 4

2016 MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – Rare Oakville Cult Wine

The 2016 MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is a rare gem from Napa Valley’s revered Oakville appellation. Produced in tiny quantities from old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon planted on the historic To-Kalon Vineyard, this wine is a profound expression of terroir, intensity, and elegance.

Tasting Notes

Captivating aromas of blackberry, cassis, and violet mingle with hints of graphite, cedar, and a subtle touch of crushed rock. The palate is full-bodied yet refined, showcasing flavors of ripe plum, dark chocolate, and a lingering finish marked by fine-grained tannins and remarkable purity.

Winemaking & Vineyard Details

Produced entirely from **Cabernet Sauvignon** vines planted on To-Kalon’s legendary soils, the 2016 vintage was aged in **100% new French oak barrels** for nearly two years. The MacDonald family’s commitment to low-intervention farming and meticulous winemaking ensures the integrity of the site’s singular character.

Investment & Collectibility

The 2016 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Napa Valley’s most sought-after cult wines, known for its minuscule production, historic vineyard source, and critical acclaim. Highly collectible, this vintage exemplifies the precision and pedigree that define Napa’s elite Cabernet. Perfect for your collection.

Vintage Specifics & Accolades

The **2016 vintage** in Napa Valley is celebrated for its ideal growing conditions, yielding wines of balance, structure, and remarkable age-worthiness.

  • 99 pointsRobert Parker's Wine Advocate
  • 98 pointsVinous

Explore Related Collections

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.

Domestic Shipping

We currently ship to all U.S. states where the shipment of alcohol is legally permitted. Orders are fulfilled via UPS.

Orders placed Monday through Thursday before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time typically ship the same day. Orders placed after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday will ship the following Monday.

Same-day delivery may be available within the Los Angeles Metro area if placed before noon. Please contact us at (626) 714-7006 to arrange expedited local service.

Packaging & Warm Weather Shipping

To protect wine quality, all orders are packed in EPS foam shippers with gel packs when necessary. During warmer months, we recommend selecting Next Day Air service. If Ground shipping is selected during high temperatures, a signed waiver may be required to release us from liability due to heat exposure.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, bottles are removed and shipped in foam for safety. The wooden case ships separately via Ground unless otherwise requested.

Weather Holds & Free Storage

In periods of extreme weather, we reserve the right to delay shipment until safe conditions return. If you request immediate shipment during such periods, you must confirm in writing and acknowledge that you waive any condition guarantees.

We also offer complimentary temperature-controlled storage for up to 6 months from the date of purchase. Select the “Hold for Weather” option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping at a later date.

Insurance

We provide free shipping insurance for loss or visible damage during transit, per carrier terms and conditions.

Adult Signature Required

All shipments of alcohol require an adult signature (21+) upon delivery. Carriers will not release packages without adult authorization. Additional charges may apply for re-delivery, redirection, or failed delivery attempts.

Shipping Address Accuracy

Orders are shipped to the exact shipping address provided at checkout. Angry Wine Merchant is not responsible for errors or omissions in the address submitted by the customer. If a package is delayed, returned, or misdelivered due to incorrect shipping details, the customer assumes full responsibility. Additional shipping fees may apply if re-shipment is required. By placing an order, you confirm that the shipping address entered is correct and agree to these terms.

States We Ship To

We ship to the following U.S. states:

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), Wyoming (WY)

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International Shipping

We do offer international shipping where legally allowed. For details, click here or contact us directly.

  • 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 – Rare Oakville Cult Wine

The 2016 MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is a rare gem from Napa Valley’s revered Oakville appellation. Produced in tiny quantities from old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon planted on the historic To-Kalon Vineyard, this wine is a profound expression of terroir, intensity, and elegance.

Tasting Notes

Captivating aromas of blackberry, cassis, and violet mingle with hints of graphite, cedar, and a subtle touch of crushed rock. The palate is full-bodied yet refined, showcasing flavors of ripe plum, dark chocolate, and a lingering finish marked by fine-grained tannins and remarkable purity.

Winemaking & Vineyard Details

Produced entirely from **Cabernet Sauvignon** vines planted on To-Kalon’s legendary soils, the 2016 vintage was aged in **100% new French oak barrels** for nearly two years. The MacDonald family’s commitment to low-intervention farming and meticulous winemaking ensures the integrity of the site’s singular character.

Investment & Collectibility

The 2016 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Napa Valley’s most sought-after cult wines, known for its minuscule production, historic vineyard source, and critical acclaim. Highly collectible, this vintage exemplifies the precision and pedigree that define Napa’s elite Cabernet. Perfect for your collection.

Vintage Specifics & Accolades

The **2016 vintage** in Napa Valley is celebrated for its ideal growing conditions, yielding wines of balance, structure, and remarkable age-worthiness.

  • 99 pointsRobert Parker's Wine Advocate
  • 98 pointsVinous

Explore Related Collections

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