Saddleback Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Saddleback Cellars

Other · Cabernet Sauvignon
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Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
92 /100
Reviews
15
professional

Vintages

1
1997 Other 92/100
Cabernet Sauvignon
NV

Community Reviews

21
21
Reviews
91.7
Avg Score
94
Highest
Taster #8698 · Nov 30, 2017
94/100
Great fruit with lively acidity. Nice secondary notes of mint and lavender. 13.5% This could go for several more years. Tannins are still present. This certainly had more youthful fruit than the 96 although both are drinking well.
1997 vintage
Taster #9687 · Aug 14, 2017
92/100
Classic Napa Cabernet with cigar box nose. Opened up nicely over two hours with supple fruit and some light tannins. There was a tiny unpleasant note of iodine that may be a slight flaw in the bottle.
1997 vintage
Taster #1427 · Jun 11, 2013
93/100
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs Double Blind; 6/11/2013-6/14/2013 (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL) : Mistaken for a Pomerol, didn't seem to have the intensity of CS. Smoother and more Merlot like. Very good. Jerry's Red. Recieved several WOTN's.
1997 vintage
Taster #7104 · Mar 11, 2012
This must have a long decant prior to even tasting. Big mistake to pop and pour.
1997 vintage
Taster #8394 · May 22, 2011
89/100
This wine showed well in a great line up of '97 Cabs (i.e. Caymus, Fisher Unity, Cinq Cepage, Freemark Abby, Heitz, La Jota, Silver Oak, Silverado, Dunn, and a great deal of others). Still showing fruit, with nice levels of acidity and lower levels of tannins. Did not fall apart as the Caymus did. This wine is currently in its prime and continue to show well for another year.
1997 vintage
Taster #3549 · May 1, 2011
Saddleback Vertical, 97 Cabs and few others (Patti's, Wilmington, Delaware) : This was served along with the 98 and 99 vintages. This showed just a little age in the color but surprising not as much as I would expect. The aromas on this vintage were a bit funkier and earthier with some mushroom. On the palet, this was very nice with richer fruit than both the 98 and 99. Slight licorice, lots of fruit and still plenty of very fine …
1997 vintage
Taster #1018 · Apr 16, 2011
90/100
classic aged napa cab. lots of sediment, tannins integrated with nice fruit and leather.
1997 vintage
Taster #9939 · Jan 15, 2011
93/100
PnP. Color shows approriately for its age. Cedar & oak with dark fruits on the nose. Nice length.
1997 vintage
Taster #7104 · Jan 11, 2011
This is drinking exceptionally well. Decanted for an hour before tasting. Restrained nose with vegetal notes and tobacco. Very silky tannins on a long finish. Very nice and still has some life left in it!!!
1997 vintage
Taster #1018 · Mar 14, 2010
92/100
still a great bottle of wine. popped and poured. still very youthful with a stout backbone. this is probably the sixth bottle i've had of this vineyard/vintage and it never seems to change, always consistantly great. three bottles to go.
1997 vintage
Taster #6097 · Jul 18, 2009
88/100
Should have decanted for sediment, but didnt. Color is dark garnet, Nose is a bit muted, primary flavor is black cherry for me rather than the raspberry some tasters noted. Surprisingly light bodied. Long pleasant finish. After getting some air, the wine really came together nicely. It really paired perfectly with the steak I had, but the lightness allowed it to work with other foods at the table. Overall, it didnt blow me away, as it lacked any real complexity, …
1997 vintage
Taster #0219 · Dec 21, 2008
93/100
Wow - rich bricking & semi-translucent ruby red color. Deep & rich blackberries, raspberries & currants surrounded by cedar & black pepper wrapped in some still tight tannins. Long smooth finish.
1997 vintage
Taster #1869 · Apr 26, 2008
Had a taste of Nils Venge's 1997 Saddleback Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon today at a birthday celebration. This was a fantastic wine, and was the best of those being poured. Great balance, fruit, loads of green pepper and a finish that's almost unreal in length. A good 40+ sec. It was nice to see that the 97 was holding up as I've heard about quite a few 97 cabs not holding up in their later years. This one has 5+ years …
1997 vintage
Taster #0464 · Feb 22, 2007
Initially, cedar predominates on the nose. At first, dark fruits with cedar and some tannins that clamp down on the finish. Wine really opened up over the next hour. Classic cali cab with lots of dark fruit, and cedar / leather. Slightly drying tannins on the finish are only minimally detracting. Excellent wine that has aged well.
1997 vintage
Taster #7128 · Feb 18, 2007
93/100
thisd wine was singing. decanted for only 1 hour. nose of strawberry, cassis, leather and tabbaco. wonderfully balanced. strong fruit through the finsh. well intergrated tannins. at it's peak.
1997 vintage
Taster #9530 · Sep 21, 2006
90/100
No tasting notes. I recall being rather pleasantly surprised with this wine, much better than expected.
1997 vintage
Taster #7128 · Jun 11, 2006
corked
1997 vintage
Taster #7128 · Apr 30, 2006
90/100
nice nose of cassis red fruits. well interaged tannins and fruit. has lost most of it's baby fat but didn't pick up secondary flavors. good, but not outstanding
1997 vintage
Taster #7071 · Mar 17, 2005
92/100
Very dark purple in color. Open, expressive nose - very fruity, notes of plums and chocolate. On the palate, great texture - full, thick, flavorful. Very rich, very complex, very concentrated - delicious flavors - similar notes to nose - lots of plumminess and chocolate. Very full, very flavorful, medium length finish. Seems in its prime right now. Has plenty of life left, but I can't imagine it getting any better than this.
1997 vintage
Taster #8435 · Feb 13, 2005
94/100
Had this from a magnum at a great birthday celebration. Classic napa valley cabernet bursting with loads of dark fruit, complexity, super-aromatic nose, and about a 30-40 second long finish. Easily bested the '99 Ridge Montebello which also was served from a magnum.
1997 vintage
Taster #2159 · Oct 29, 2004
92/100
Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bottle provided by Walt Nagy. Bright disc. Opaque ruby robe with red rim. Clean nose, showing very intense "primary" aromas of currants, plums and exotic spices. Full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and big ripe tannins. The flavors are quite nice but, as for the nose, unevolved. Long, smooth finish. While this wine is delicious, I would expect more complexity at this point for a seven-year-old Napa Cab.
1997 vintage