SOLD OUT! One of the greatest California Mountain Cab values I've ever poured into my glass, the 2019 Marietta Game Trail Cabernet Sauvignon is exquisite. I'd be happy to put this in a blind tasting against much more expensive wines from Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, or Mount Veeder. It would definitely hold its own, but it would cost just a fraction of the price.
Bravo to Scott Bilbro and the team at Marietta for producing such a gorgeous wine from the Yorkville Highlands AVA, the mountain pass between the north end of Alexander Valley and the west end of Anderson Valley. Evocative, ethereal, powerful, and fresh, this fully earned its 94-95 point scores and then some. After tasting this with my rep last week, I bought the last 60 bottles of the 2019, and I'm running a great deal on it. Once those 60 bottles are gone, we won't see this wine again until the 2021 is released. Bilbro did not produce a 2020 due to smoke taint.
2019 Marietta Cellars 'Game Trail' Cabernet Sauvignon
95 points James Suckling, 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
SOLD OUT
I absolutely love this wine, and it makes sense, as I tend to prefer mountain-grown Cabs. The increased elevation results in cooler growing conditions which allows the grapes to ripen slower and more evenly. This slower ripening brings out more complex and intricate flavors along with more freshness and acidity. In addition, the soils tend to be rockier, less fertile, and well-drained, and this all comes together to add an intense and complex mineral nuance in mountain Cabs. All of those elements are on display in this amazing wine and incredible value.
You might think I'm crazy for calling a $35 to $40 wine an amazing value. Think what you like, but when you compare it with lower-scoring wines from Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, and Mount Veeder that start at $75, you'll quickly realize that this is a serious "find." From a high elevation site with coastal influence and large diurnal shifts, the Game Trail Cabernet offers an intense, fragrant, savory, and fresh style of Cabernet that speaks of site. This coastal influence and the large diurnal swings create small berries, thick skins, deep pigmentation, and tons of structure.
Furthermore, the entire site is planted with the famed Clone 6 Cabernet Sauvignon, made famous by the likes of BV and the core component of their Georges de Latour Reserve Cab. Clone 6 is unique as it sets sparingly, yielding tiny berries not much bigger than a blueberry. These small berries yield intense flavors and heady aromas, and Cabs made from this clone always start at $75 and go up from there....except this one.
I could go on and on, but I know you want to know what this stuff tastes like.
Here are my tasting notes: This pours a gorgeous purple/violet color and offers up immediate notes of black currant, berry preserves, dark chocolate, lots of spice, and hot rock (aka mineral). The palate is concentrated and mouth-filling yet fresh and energetic. The flavors unfold with time in the glass to reveal both red and dark fruits, along with hints of anise, eucalyptus, pepper, crushed gravel, and more. This is a powerful wine that will reward the patient. Marvelous stuff!
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Game Trail Cabernet Sauvignon features scents of blackcurrant and blackcurrant bud, chocolate, star anise, iron and violet. Powerful yet fresh, the full-bodied palate has loads of grainy tannins and bright sparks of acidity highlighting its floral perfume. It has mineral-streaked fruits and a long, layered finish with singular wafts of incense. Drink 2023-2038."
James Suckling: "Lovely aromas of red- and blackcurrants, black olive and fresh mint. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, tight tannins. Layered with some pretty red and black fruits. Black pepper, nutmeg, coriander, black licorice. An attuned mix of earth and fresh fruit. Great. Grown at 1400 ft elevation. Clone 6. Drink after 2023."
As you can tell by the length of this post, I'm rather excited about this wine. I have already claimed mine, the rest is up for grabs. Act fast on this one folks, it will be gone fast.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville