CARTER CABERNET "CARTER" '17   

CARTER CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON “THE CARTER” NAPA VALLEY 2017

Wine Advocate

93 Points

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter gives up bight, expressive cassis, crushed black plums and warm black cherries with touches of garrigue, tobacco, wild thyme and potpourri. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a good amount of black fruit and savory sparks, finishing earthy. Drink Date 2020 - 2035. Issue 245 End of October 2019

Vinous

95+ Points

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter is rich, sumptuous and luxuriously ripe, as all these wines are, and yet it has a ton of supporting structure that, as it softens, should reveal all of the potential the wine is presently holding back. In 2017, the Carter is a blend of the best barrels and includes fruit from Weitz, Las Piedras and To Kalon. Drink 2022 - 2037 Antonio Galloni Jan 2020

NVWE Notes: A secret “best barrel” Cab blend, this year’s “Carter”, classically balanced and showing no hint of overripeness, carries reserves of powerfully concentrated fruit that seem likely to be Oakville sourced. Its tightly-coiled nose unwinds, with extended airing, as a chiseled array of sour red cherry, red currant, black cherry, black raspberry, bitter chocolate, cedar, star anise, vanilla, coffee bean and tobacco leaf scents. A push of black cherry, Italian Maraschino cherry, Creme de Cassis, black raspberry, cedar, toffee and vanilla nougat creates a flashy impression on the palate, where the tannins are gripping but never dominate. The finish is very long and the wine seems never less than powerful. If likely to be spectacular in five years or so, it may improve for ten more years after that.