By Hall Wines
2021 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon

Background
Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon is the pinnacle of our craft - a powerfully rich and opulent blend centered on the legendary Sacrashe Vineyard, seamlessly layered with Napa Valley's most esteemed mountain fruit.

Source
The Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon is the pinnacle of our blending efforts each year. The exalted Sacrashe vineyard takes center stage and is the basis of this blend. The vineyard contributes the mouth-coating richness and complexity, offering deep, dark earthy cassis flavors and powerfully dense tannins. From there, we search out complementary vineyards, usually from the most regarded mountain appellations, to create balance, symmetry and finesse in the wine. Lastly, we introduce vineyards with profound depth and decadence to heighten the voluptuousness and opulence that have become a hallmark character of our flagship wine.

Vintage
The alluring 2021 vintage is notable for its low yields, which resulted in an extra degree of concentration in our wines. In a second year of severe drought, the vines grew quickly in the warm spring weather while our team carefully managed irrigation block by block. By summer, the vines had set a lighter-than-average crop, and cooler weather in August allowed time for multiple vineyard passes to fine-tune the fruit load and manage the canopy. After a smooth harvest season, we are excited about the beautifully balanced, flavor-packed 2021s.

Wine Details
Appellation: Napa Valley
Varietal Composition: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc
Vineyards: Sacrashe, Hall Estate, Dellar-Friedkin, and grower partners
Aging: 26 months in 70% new French oak

Tasting Notes
Vintage after vintage, our Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon is characterized by complex aromas and supple, layered tannin. The 2021 bottling is perfectly integrated and opens with aromas of blackcurrant, fresh earth, graphite, and dark cocoa. On the palate, there is a wash of opulent and lingering tannin with notes of dark fruit, wet stone, and a touch of iron. This is a pure and nuanced wine to enjoy now and over the next 10-15 years.
[Information provided by Hall Wines]

Wine: 2021 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall
Score/Rating: 96-98
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2045
Review Date: 02/16/2023
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color, it waltzes out with gregarious notions of stewed black plums, black cherry compote, and creme de cassis with hints of clove oil, dark chocolate, and cedar. Full-bodied, rich, and spicy and the mouth, the concentrated black fruit preserves flavors are well supported by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a lingering cedary note.

Wine: 2021 Hall Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall
Score/Rating: 95-97
Review Date: 12/26/2023
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall comes from a mix of sites in the valley. It's a ripe, concentrated, impressive 2021 offering lots of ripe plum and darker currant-like fruit as well as ample baking spice, leather, and dried tobacco notes. Rich and full-bodied, with ripe tannins, beautiful mid-palate density, and a great finish, this ripe, sexy, pleasure-bent beauty will also evolve gracefully.

Wine: Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2021
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: Drink now through 2038
Review Date: 11/15/2024
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: This is in the lush, forthright style, with waves of warmed cassis, plum reduction and fig preserves. Moves steadily, showing hints of singed alder and cedar, along with warm earth and tobacco nuances along the way. Finishes dense, deep and broad in feel. Feels like a throwback to the late '90s/early '00s power style. Best from 2025 through 2038.

Wine: Hall 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2036
Review Date: 05/2024
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall is built on a core of the best blocks at Sacrashe. It offers up copious red-toned fruit mixed with sweet spice, floral notes and mocha overtones. As is typically the case, the Kathryn Hall is one of the more aromatic wines in the range.

Wine: Hall Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2021
Score/Rating: 91
Review Date: 09/21/2024
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: The nose is deeply scented, with dark aromas of blackcurrants, coffee beans and tobacco leaves. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins, giving notes of blackberry compote, cured meat and graphite. Nicely constructed. Drink or hold.

Wine: 2021 Hall Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2030
Review Date: 07/03/2024
Reviewed By: Joe Czerwinski
Tasting Notes: The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall features upfront notes of dark chocolate, plums and black cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and velvety. It's a popular but slightly dated style, but it's well made and should be delicious over the short term.

Wine: Hall 2021 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
Score/Rating: 90
Review Date: 11/01/2024
Reviewed By: Elaine Chukan Brown
Tasting Notes: Brawny, bold and persistent, this concentrated and savory Cabernet fills the palate with flavors of boysenberry, pine pitch and smoky spices. Dusty earth tannins and glittering acidity persist through a long finish.

Wine: Hall, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Napa Valley
Score/Rating: 16/20
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2034
Review Date: 05/02/2024
Reviewed By: Jancis Robinson
Tasting Notes: [...]. Their top wine based mainly on fruit from Sacrashe vineyard, eastern Rutherford.
Deep blackish crimson. Charred and focused nose. Lusciously sweet - quite a contrast to the new-wave drier, fresher, lighter wines! A bit hot on the end. Not my style but it should satisfy Big Napa Valley traditionalists.