Yesterday I sat with the beautiful range of Ladera wines, I was amazed with the consistency and quality that each wine offered. Over the past two decades Ladera has been guided by the Stotesbery family. Based on Howell Mountain, Ladera focus on high elevation mountain fruit for the Cabernet Sauvignon wines as well as their Russian River Valley Pillow Road Estate Vineyard for the excellent Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Having decades of experience as ranchers, Pat and Anne Stotesbery acquired their first Napa Valley mountain vineyard in 1996. A few years later in 1999 they founded Ladera, which means “hillside” in Spanish and Italian, and made their debut vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines are made by Jade Barrett, who has made wines throughout New Zealand, Australia and California. A former assistant winemaker at Lewis Cellars, Jade’s wines have incredible poise and structure. They have power without being overly jammy or fruity. This is the new era of Napa Cabernet.
The 2013 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) is quite frankly in a magical place right now. This beauty shows off the heat of this vintage without being overblown, as lovely non-fruit flavors are now settling in. Nearly as good was the new 2018 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is starting to shed its baby fat and shows a beautiful texture and outstanding flavor range. This beauty will easily be a twenty year wine. Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://laderavineyards.com/ and here are my reviews of the Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Reserve’ wines by Ladera.
2013 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2013 ‘Reserve’ by Ladera is a scintillating edition of this wine that is inky in the glass. 100% varietal, this was stored in 82% new French oak barrels for 22 months prior to bottling. Right now this is right in its wheelhouse, showing impeccable balance between poise, weight and flavor range. Shades of graphite and anise combine with cassis and espresso ground flavors on the palate. Finishing very long, this is exceedingly good right now — and has at least another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2014 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The incredible 2014 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this high elevation site on Howell Mountain. All Cabernet Sauvignon, this screams terroir on the nose with shades of tilled volcanic soils alongside dark currant cordial, blackberry pie and coffee grounds. The palate is soft and inviting with copious minerals that combine with the silky texture and beautiful length. A joy to drink now, this is right in its sweet spot — and will provide drinking enjoyment for another ten plus years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 95
2015 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 Ladera ‘Reserve’ is already wonderfully evolved right now and is a touch on the leaner and herbal side than the other ‘Reserve’ bottlings. Quite different than the 2013 and 2014, the 2015 ‘Reserve’ has a bit more sage and menthol character on the palate, with medium to full-bodied dark fruit and chocolate flavors. Really delicious now at the eight year mark, enjoy this beauty over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2016 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The absolutely gorgeous 2016 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a heady, masterful wine that shows great concentration and poise in this warm vintage. Once on the nose this takes on layers of spice box and anise notes that combine with huckleberry and suggestions of Black Forest cake. The palate shows a beautiful sense of verve and refinement, as every working part is singing in unison. Finishing very long, this 2016 Cabernet is a total thrill to consume now and will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2017 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- From what was a somewhat challenging vintage in Napa, the 2017 ‘Reserve’ is an elixir joyride that shows little signs of slowing down. The palate shows massive concentration and structure, with very refined tannins and a smooth mouthfeel. Generous and broad-shouldered, this reveals in its wet stone, creme de cassis and Turkish coffee flavors alongside more sandalwood and garrigue nuances. Such a pleasure to consume now, this has both the stuffing and tension to clear well for another fifteen to twenty years — but is nearly impossible to resist now. Drink 2023-2039- 95
2018 Ladera ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The most recent edition of the ‘Reserve’ is a complete knockout of a wine as this is now my second time tasting this beauty. Right away this shows beautiful toasty oak notes alongside a dense combination of black and blue fruits on the nose with shades of wet rock and loamy soils. The palate shows good refinement with silky tannins that frame a gorgeous Corte of creme de violette, black currants, espresso grounds, tar and stony accents. This will easily be a 20 year wine. Be sure to allow this to have an hour or two in the decanter before consuming. Drink 2023-2042- 95