2017 Amici Hirondelle Cabernet Sauvignon

96points

Jeb Dunnuck

“beautiful, complex, elegant”

Vineyard Notes

Hirondelle Vineyard is the first vineyard in the Amici portfolio to come from the unique Stag’s Leap District in Napa Valley. Located in the eastern portion of Napa Valley, Stag’s Leap District was the first region to be approved in the United States based on soil type. Volcanic rock and river sediments make up a staggering blend of soils that give the region its famed intensity and flavor profile often described as “an iron fist in a velvet glove.”

Winemaking Notes

The first vintage from this beautiful Stag’s Leap District vineyard site, the 2017 Hirondelle Cabernet Sauvignon shows the region’s classic iron-rich aromas and freshness on the palate. Concentrated but with linear precision and acidity, the wine is powerful yet silky. Hedonistic flavors of blueberry pie, dark chocolate and licorice lead into hints of crushed rock and black tea. With powdery tannins and a lovely finish, the wine shows great promise as one of our most food-friendly wines.

Vintage
2017
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard
Hirondelle
Appellation
Stag's Leap District, Napa Valley
Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Fermentation & Aging
100% stainless steel fermentation. Aged 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels

Reviews

96points

Jeb Dunnuck

“From Clos du Val’s holdings in Stags Leap, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondelle Vineyard is a beautiful, complex, elegant wine that I’d be happy to drink any day. Lots of black, black fruits as well as notes of wet stone/earth, crushed rocks, and a hint of flowery incense all give way to a medium to full-bodied, vibrant, structured wine that has notable freshness and purity. This is a complex, layered, complete 2017 that can be enjoyed today or cellared for 20 years or more.”

96points

James Suckling

“This is really wonderful with crushed currants, pine needles and flowers. Full body. Creamy and firm tannins. Structured. Lovely texture. 100% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2021.”

95points

Wine Advocate

“The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondelle Vineyard is made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 100% new French Taransaud, Sylvain and Darnajou barrels. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it delivers hedonic blueberry pie, Black Forest cake and crème de cassis notes with hints of licorice, dried herbs and unsmoked cigars plus a touch of cedar chest. Full-bodied and firm, with lovely ripe, grainy tannins, it has well-balanced freshness and bags of layered blue and black fruit flavors, finishing spicy.”

92+points

Vinous Media

“The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondelle is the most tannic and austere wine in this range. Massively structured and shut down today, the 2017 is far less showy in bottle than it was from barrel. Then again, we are talking about one of the very best sites in Stags Leap. Inky dark fruit, graphite, licorice, menthol and cedar are some of the many nuances that develop over time.”

Purchase