96+ Points - 2021 Oakville Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s easy to think of the Oakville AVA as being just the valley floor, but it extends well up into the Vaca Range on Napa’s eastern side. Sojourn’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch Vineyard comes from a site approximately 1,400 feet above sea level and is a mix of Clones 4, 169 and 337 (plus 4% Petit Verdot), all aged in 75% new French oak. Scents of crushed stone, black cherries and blackberries appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is firmly structured and streamlined, framed by silky tannins that linger on the cool, slightly menthol-tinged finish. It makes a harmonious overall impression, albeit a very youthful one, with time to grow into a potentially outstanding wine. Unfortunately, production is only 150 cases.

 

94+ Points - 2021 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

The full-bodied 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard is a first for the winery, a blend of Clone 4 and Clone 63 (Wiemer) from two blocks, yet the yield is only 150 cases of this wine. Matured in 70% new French oak, it’s cedary and remarkably elegant for a Stagecoach wine, with bright cherry and blackberry fruit framed by firm tannins that lead into a long, dusty finish. From the starting line, where we are now, it looks like a wine that will reward cellaring up to a couple of decades.

94 Points - 2021 Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon

Sojourn gets Clone 337 from F Block in this historic vineyard, formerly known as Beaulieu Vineyard No. 3. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III aged in 75% new French oak before being bottled in June 2023. It’s true to its Rutherford roots, showing dusty earth notes on the nose alongside bright cherries and deeper mocha and dried-spice undertones. It’s full-bodied but somehow seems less rich than its 14.7% alcohol implies, cruising across the mid-palate in a flurry of soft tannins and finishing long and firm, with hints of dark chocolate.

 

93 Points - 2021 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

Sojourn’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak blends lots from Stagecoach Vineyard with those from two other nearby sites and includes 2% Petit Verdot. Like the Oakville bottling, this is also matured in 70% new French oak. Dark fruit and pencil shavings mark the nose, black cherries and cassis leading the way. Full-bodied and concentrated, this is a big, rich, reasonably tannic effort that could easily handle several years in the cellar. Drink the Oakville bottling while waiting for this one to come around, or be prepared to serve this alongside rare beef or lamb. Given current pricing, this is a solid value, as not many Napa Cabs in this price range will age for two decades.

 

92 Points - 2021 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Sojourn’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville consists primarily of lots that didn’t fit into the Oakville Ranch Vineyard bottling, but it also includes smaller portions from two other Oakville sites. Matured in 70% new French oak, it offers up bold aromas of red and black cherries accented by hints of loamy earth and mocha-scented oak. It’s full-bodied, almost creamy in texture across the mid-palate, then finishes with a velvety flourish on the softly dusty finish. Already very drinkable, it should hold up well for a decade or so, perhaps longer.