The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Ultimate Red actually benefits from being a big larger-scaled than previous vintages, boasting attractive cedar and cassis aromas as well as more volume on the palate than the 2018. Full-bodied and velvety, it finishes with a touch of licorice.
Approximately 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% each Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Audax is impressively dark in the glass, with attractive scents of cassis, mocha and dark chocolate; while it avoids much of the herbal nuance of the 2018, it’s a bit simpler, riper and chunkier in feel. No doubt […]
James Suckling reviewed the 2018 Ultimate Cabernet Sauvignon on January 26, 2022: Aromas of cassis, blackberry, chocolate, vanilla, peppermint and cedar. Full-bodied with plush tannins. Firm and structured, yet creamy, with a caressing, ripe core of black fruit and sweet spice. Drink from 2023. https://www.jamessuckling.com/tasting-notes/172540/calla-lily-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley-ultimate-red-2018
James Suckling reviewed the 2018 Audax on January 26, 2022: 91 points: Aromas of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, blackcurrants, dried thyme, vanilla and baking spices. Full-bodied with firm, dense tannins. Rich, ripe and fruity with a creamy texture. Drink from 2023. https://www.jamessuckling.com/tasting-notes/172668/audax-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley-2018
The Calla Lily “Ultimate Red” Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, is a blend of 84 percent cabernet sauvignon, 6 percent each cabernet franc and merlot and 4 percent malbec, aged 22 months in French oak, 40 percent new barrels. The wine displays an inky-purple robe that shades to a magenta rim; iodine, iron and graphite, […]
Predominantly cabernet, with 4 percent merlot, 3 percent cabernet franc and 1 percent malbec, the Calla Lily Audax Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Napa Valley, aged 27 months in French oak, 50 percent new barrels. The result is a solid, sizable wine with plenty of girth and depth. The color is dark to medium ruby-magenta; the nose […]
94 points: The first vines on this 20-acre estate vineyard, located in Pope Valley on the eastern side of Howell Mountain, were planted in 1995; the property also boasts a small plot of pre-phylloxera vines. Winemaker Cary Gott’s aging regimen for this blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 4% Petit […]
Calla Lily Winery – A Boutique Napa Valley Winery Off The Beaten Path February 20, 2021 When visiting Napa Valley, a trip to Pope Valley is a must. Experience authentic Napa Valley, it is the quieter and less pretentious side of Napa. Pope Valley has risen in stature in recent years, producing prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon’s […]
From the producer’s Howell Mountain estate, this wine bursts in juicy red fruit and baking spice. It is a lengthy and full-bodied expression of the grape blended with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Supple tannins show a lasting intensity.
From a vineyard high atop Howell Mountain, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, this red is thick and densely built in mocha, sage and cedar. Rich layers of vanilla and milk chocolate give it a roundedness and soft, supple structure.
In the November-December issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine, the 2015 Audax is reviewed: 95 points, 4 ½ kisses: This estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon (with small additions of Merlot, Cab Franc and Malbec) is weighty and powerful. Tobacco, slate and espresso manage to arouse both the nose and a palate whose earthiness transitions to plum coated […]
91 points: Black and inky, this wine blends in 13% Merlot and a smidgen of Cabernet Franc. Sandalwood, oak and cigar orbit around a soft, rich and round midpalate that is deftly structured and well-integrated in oak and tannin. June 2019 https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/calla-lily-2013-audax-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley/
94 points: Blended with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this wine succeeds in its rich coming-together of plum, lavender and black-currant flavors, the palate densely packed in fruit and tight-grained tannin. Effusively perfumed in oak and cedar, it is nicely integrated and shows great complexity. June 2019 https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/calla-lily-2014-audax-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley/
91 points: Muted on the nose, this wine develops at its own pace, revealing juicy, dusty layers of integrated tannin and oak, with lingering red currant and raspberry fruit. Medium in body and light in mouthfeel, it’s softened by the addition of 11% Merlot and a small amount of Cabernet Franc. July 2017 https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/calla-lily-2013-ultimate-red-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley/
94 points: 2015 Audax Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 Audax Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder smaller portions Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. Aged for 27 months in 50% new French oak, the wine shows gorgeous kirsch tones that combine with creme de cassis, wild herbs and mocha tones that […]