The 2016 Kelly Fleming Cabernet Sauvignon is a notable offering from Napa Valley, crafted exclusively from estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. This wine has garnered praise across the board, with reviewers highlighting its depth, complexity, and potential for aging.
Jeb Dunnuck awards it an excellent score of 96, describing it as having a "saturated purple color" and a "brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, toasted spice, dried soil, and cedar pencil." Dunnuck emphasizes its classic Cabernet profile, noting its full body, ripe tannins, and impressive finish. He suggests that this wine can be enjoyed now but also has the potential to age gracefully over the next two decades.
Vinous delivers the highest praise with a score of 97, describing the wine as "towering" and "statuesque." Antonio Galloni highlights its "powerful, dense and explosive" nature, suggesting that the wine's intensity and energy reflect the Calistoga terroir. Galloni believes the 2016 vintage might still be on an upward trajectory, indicating further development with age.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gives it a solid 94+ rating, citing its "deep garnet-purple" color and pronounced flavors of cassis, cherries, and plums. The review notes additional nuances of menthol, meat, earth, and chocolate, providing a complex and full-bodied experience with a "firm, grainy frame and a long minty finish."
According to Wine Enthusiast, this 100% varietal wine is a "sensuous expression" of the grape, featuring mineral notes, crushed rock, and pencil shavings. The review appreciates its concentrated tannins and flavors of dried herbs, fig, and black olive, suggesting it will excel from 2026 to 2031.
Overall, the 2016 Kelly Fleming Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust and dynamic wine with accolades from all corners, promising both immediate enjoyment and future potential.