92 points: The 2016 Calla Lily ‘Ultimate Red’ is comprised of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) sourced from the 20 acre estate vineyard located in the Pope Valley and is a really good effort by winemaker Cary Gott. Aged for 22 months in 40% new French oak, the toasty oak tones neatly combine with layers
This wine is mostly cabernet sauvignon (84%) blended with small amounts of cabernet franc (6%), merlot (6%) and petit verdot (4%). The fruit was all grown in the Napa Valley. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 26 months in French oak barrels (40% new). It comes in at 14.5% ABV. The wine showed a
James Suckling reviewed the 2017 Audax: 90 points: A juicy red with currant, light coffee and walnut character. Medium body. Juicy and lightly chewy. Drink or hold. https://www.jamessuckling.com/tasting-notes/136959/audax-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley-2017/
James Suckling reviewed the 2017 Ultimate: 93 points: A tight, well-structured red with currant, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Medium to full body and a rich palate with juicy fruit, yet there’s underlying freshness and focus. Needs a year or two to come together, but already looking excellent. Better after 2022. https://www.jamessuckling.com/tasting-notes/136947/calla-lily-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley-ultimate-red-2017/
September 2020 issue of Tasting Panel Magazine: 93 points: Winemaker Cary Gott crafted this small-production blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, which aged 22 months in (40% new) French oak. At 14.8% ABV, it possesses a statuesque and broad-shouldered character. Tarry blackberry, dark chocolate, slate and licorice
September 2020 issue of California Grapevine: Highly recommended. Medium to medium-dark ruby; fragrant, floral, blackberry fruit aroma with hints of cassis, cocoa powder, and black olive; full body; rich, rounded, dark fruit flavors with hints of dried herbs and baking spice, and undertones of sweet oak; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Could use another year or
93 points: Deep, rich and velvety, this has a ton of fine tannins to balance the ripe blackberry, cassis and plum aromas. Although this isn’t tart, beneath the plush exterior is nice freshness that keeps this straight and prevents it from feeling heavy. Lovely interplay between delicately sweet fruit and dry tannins at the long
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 all mingle together in unison. The
The 2016 Calla Lily ‘Ultimate Red’ is comprised of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) sourced from the 20 acre estate vineyard located in the Pope Valley and is a really good effort by winemaker Cary Gott. Aged for 22 months in 40% new French oak, the toasty oak tones neatly combine with layers of dark
In The Tasting Panel Magazine, March 2019, p. 52: The grapes for this big red from winemaker Cary Gott come from a 95-acre vineyard planted in 1995 on the eastern side of Howell Mountain. A blend of 89.2% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5.2% Cabernet Franc and 5.6% Merlot, the wine spent 27 months in 50% new
A little brother of sorts to the Audax bottlings. Close your eyes and think dark, luxe cabernet made expertly in a classic Napa style. That’s this. April 2019, http://www.winethropology.com/2019/04/speed-dating-notes-from-trade-tasting.html
Lovely, statuesque, and well-made. A Napa Valley body wrapped in Burgundian structure. April 2019, http://www.winethropology.com/2019/04/speed-dating-notes-from-trade-tasting.html
Rich Cook reviews the 2013 Audax at WineReviewOnline on April 2, 2019: 95 points A pleasure to be able to recommend the second vintage of this bottling from winemaker Cary Gott. A heralded vintage in Napa Valley is put on brilliant display here, with layered varietally correct aromas and flavors presented in bold style without
2013 Audax is reviewed in the February 6, 2019 Nittany Epicurean: AUDAX, meaning “bold” in Latin, is Calla Lily Estate’s barrel-selection reserve wine made as a tribute to the pioneers of Napa Valley, many of whom settled in Pope Valley, by its fourth generation winemaker, Cary Gott. This wine is mostly cabernet sauvignon (86.6%) blended
2014 Audax is reviewed in the February 2019 issue of California Grapevine: Medium ruby; attractive, ripe, cassis and blackberry fruit aroma with spicy notes and hints of cedar, dried herbs, and vanilla; full body; forward, rich, ripe, fleshy, dark fruit flavors with undertones of toasty oak, and a full, plush mouthfeel; full tannin; lingering aftertaste.
