The 2014 Ramey Pedregal Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust and complex red wine from the Oakville sub-appellation of Napa, California. This wine, produced by Ramey, is composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot, resulting in a deep, layered flavor profile with a notable alcohol content of 14.5%.
Renowned wine critic Lisa Perrotti-Brown from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded this vintage an impressive score of 96, highlighting its “beautiful lilac, chocolate box and unsmoked cigars scents” and its “core of cassis, black cherries, and preserved plums with wafts of menthol and wood smoke.” She described it as full-bodied, packed with ripe, expressive black fruits, and savory layers, supported by a firm frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing with fantastic persistence.
Jeb Dunnuck’s Audrey Frick also provided a favorable review, scoring the wine at 94 points. She noted its bright, fresh black cherry aroma and additional notes of cedar, porcini, and fresh earth. According to Frick, the wine is full-bodied with a velvety texture and a hint of mocha, and it should continue to hold up nicely over the next decade.
Decanter’s review, which awarded the wine 95 points, emphasized the wine’s origin from a small hillside vineyard with iron-rich volcanic soil. The 2014 vintage, being a drought year, produced a dark, deep, and layered wine with mineral overtones and a silky richness. The tannins have been smoothed by aging for 25 months in new French oak.
James Suckling also gave the wine a 95-point rating, noting that it has begun to show the mellowing effects of age with “woodsy, cedary, potpourri aromas and broad, beefy flavors.” He described it as full-bodied and concentrated in black fruit and earthy-spicy accents on velvety, almost thick tannins, suggesting it can be enjoyed now or held for further aging.
Overall, the 2014 Ramey Pedregal Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a highly acclaimed wine that showcases the distinct characteristics of its unique terroir in Oakville, Napa. It’s a wine that promises complexity, depth, and longevity, making it a notable choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike.