One of the pioneering female winemakers not only in Napa but in the world, Cathy Corison crafts some stunning, highly balanced Cabernet wines for her namesake winery. Her Kronos Vineyard was first planted in 1971 on phylleroxia resistant rootstock. This low yielding (usually less than 1.5 tons/acre) vineyard produces some magical Cabernet wines and I was totally blown away with her 2003 Corison ‘Kronos Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which is currently walking the tightrope between dense dark fruit and tertiary character. If you have never had that opportunity to visit this storied Napa property, I think you will be blown away with the precision of these wines.
Grapes here on 8/12/19 in the Kronos Vineyard, owned by Cathy Corison.
2018 Corizon Rose- This barrel-fermented Rose starts off with bright peach, guava and red cherry aromas that build in the glass. With just a kiss of sweetness, the wine yields bright red fruits that mingle with minerals and melon tones. Drink 2019-2025- 90
2015 Corison ‘Sunbasket Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Located a few blocks from the Corison estate, the Sunbasket Vineyard has six acres of Cabernet Franc planted. The wine opens with aromas of green peppercorn with ripe dark fruits and shades of Turkish coffee. The palate shows wonderful freshness as perfumed dark fruits mingle with chocolate, black tea and Asian spices with violets. Fantastic in its youth, this will cellar well for decades. This has fantastic elegance, leading to the exceedingly long finish. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2015 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Corison is a spectacular effort in this warm vintage. Sourced from the Saint Helena AVA, the nose shows wonderful range from coffee grounds to creme de cassis to black olive and crushed mint. Lighter smoky tones round out the compelling aromatics. Once in the mouth, the wine has a wonderful sense of place. The silky mouthfeel provides spectacular balance here. Cassis, anise, black tea, and lighter blueberry compote tones with cigar ash flavors complete this spectacular wine. While it is showing marvelously right now, this will continue to evolve gracefully for decades. Drink 2020-2040- 95
2014 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 Corison ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a monumental wine made by superstar winemaker Cathy Corison. The nose is simply stunning and highly perfumed with shades of lavender and violets mingle with cassis, anise and black cherry syrup. The palate is fresh and refined, showing good restraint and balance yet evoking a wonderfully plush mouthfeel. Tar, leather, and dusty terroir mingle with creme de cassis and black licorice all permeate on the palate. This marvelous wine is peaking now and has an exceedingly long life left. Drink 2019-2038- 96
2003 Corison ‘Kronos Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2003 ‘Kronos Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning wine at nearly twenty years of age. Aromatically quite intense, the wine has settled into lovely tertiary aromas with damp earth, wild mushroom and shades of dark cherry cordial that all build in the glass. The palate is plush and highly refined, showing a great deal of elegance and poise. Black tea, exotic spices, damp dusty terroir and copious dark fruits with tar all show incredibly on the palate. Highly refined and delightful now, the wine will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 209-2032- 95
