Patria 2017 A. Price Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch
The Price Vineyard’s old school farming and old school clone 7 on 110r meshes perfectly with a cooler vintage like 2018, resulting in a wine reminiscent of Napa classics from the 70s. Savory aromas of fresh thyme, mint and lavender are followed by secondary aromas of dark chocolate, darjeeling tea and cedar. Flavors of dark chocolate, cranberry are flecked with hints of blackberry pie filling (the classic hallmark of western Saint Helena). The structure as well has more in line with traditional than with modern Napa Cabernet, and I anticipate similarly long aging potential as with the classics. A truly unique wine, it’s nearly as nuanced and charactered as its one-of-a-kind farmer Alan Price.
Jeb Dunnuck - 94+ Points
"More cassis, black fruits, smoked earth, and a kiss of green herbs emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon A. Price Vineyard, which is all varietal and comes from a site in St. Helena. Brought up in 100% new oak, it hits the palate with a medium to full-bodied, straight, focused, tight mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and terrific overall balance. The purity of fruit is top-notch, and it has a wonder Cabernet typicity. I suspect 3-4 years of bottle age will do it well and it should evolve for more than two decades."
James Suckling - 94 Points
"Lots of hot stone and powerful tannins. Blue fruit and black cherries. It’s full-bodied, tannic and intense. Needs time to soften. Better after 2021."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 92+ Points
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon A. Price (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is deep garnet-purple colored and has a provocatively plummy, warm cassis and black berry preserves nose with hints of cinnamon stick, bay leaves and tilled soil with a waft of pencil lead. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lovely interplay of stewed black fruits and dried herbs, with firm, chewy tannins and a savory finish."
