The 2016 Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California, is a wine that captures the essence of its region with a refined complexity. This red blend, primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon with small additions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, offers a multifaceted tasting experience.
James Suckling lauds this wine with an impressive score of 99, describing it as "harmonious" and "fascinating," with aromas of sweet berries, fresh herbs, and licorice. The wine's "breathtaking texture" and "phenomenal" focus suggest a polished and layered structure. He highlights its enticing and thoughtful nature, recommending it for immediate enjoyment or further aging.
Jeb Dunnuck offers a score of 93, noting the wine's cool blue fruits and violets, with damp rock-like minerality. He likens it to a "great St. Julien," emphasizing its medium to full body and classic structure. Dunnuck advises cellaring the wine for 4-6 years, predicting it will evolve gracefully over two decades.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, with a score of 95, points out the wine's dense color and need for additional aging. Joe Czerwinski finds it full-bodied yet restrained, with ripe tannins and flavors of dark chocolate, mocha, and rich loamy notes. He compares it to Bordeaux, noting the potential for the black cherry and cassis flavors to blossom with time.
Wine Spectator gives the wine a 94, describing it as well-built and restrained, with cassis and blackberry flavors complemented by black tea, minerally iron, and warm tobacco accents. The review suggests that the wine will gain complexity with cellaring, best from 2021 through 2036.
Wine Enthusiast rates it 93, highlighting its herbaceous and earthy qualities, with Earl Grey tea and red currant flavors. Virginie Boone notes the wine's soft, silky tannins and well-integrated oak, contributing to its robust character.
Overall, the 2016 Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of significant potential, praised for its complexity, elegance, and capacity to age gracefully.