2019 Raymond 'Generations' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
A stunning deep purple color, this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with wafting aromas of chocolate, cedar, violet and blackcurrant. This wine is rich and full-bodied with concentrated dark fruit flavors, layered with notes of juicy raspberry and black cherry and hints of vanilla bean. The finish is long, bright and fragrant with perfectly balanced and integrated silky and velvety tannins.
"Raymond Vineyards has returned to the fold as one of the benchmark, classic estates in all of Napa." – Robert M Parker, Jr. The Bad Boy of Burgundy. The man who favors silk smoking jackets, Baccarat crystal, surrealist art, and things both shaken and stirred. He’s had three sets of tires slashed in Beaune for having the audacity to bottle Grand Cru under screwcap. He married Gina Gallo, and they now live in Robert Mondavi's former Napa Valley home high up on Wappo Hill in Yountville. His parties include painted acrobats suspended from the rafters, and John Legend on the piano. He is Jean-Charles Boisset, the most interesting man in the wine business. Boisset brings a passion for greatness and a unique Gallic flair to his winery projects in California, especially Raymond Vineyards. We were especially impressed by the following wine, which illustrates Raymond's wild renaissance in quality and, thanks to Jean-Charles, a sultry, far-out image makeover that must be seen to be believed. It's definitely worth a stop on your next visit to the valley.
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Generations is one of the flagship releases and comes from three vineyards, two in St. Helena and one in Oakville. It’s 100% Cabernet and was raised in 59% new French oak. This richly textured, full-bodied, ripe, perfectly balanced 2019 gives up lots of darker currant fruits and notes of spice and green tobacco, with background oak and ultra-fine tannins. The balance is spot on, and this is another beautiful, layered, compelling Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Stephanie Putnam.
Vinous
The 2019 Generations, Raymond's top bottling, i8s terrific. The blend, taken from sites in St. Helena and Oakiville, works so well here. Pliant and silky, with noteable depth, the 2019 is wonderfully expressive right out of the glass. Black cherry, plum, lavdender, spice and menthol build into the voluptuous finish.
Wine Enthusiast
This well-concentrated, ripe and luxurious wine coats lush blueberry and blackberry flavors in fine-grained tannins for a rich mouthfeel. It shows excellent complexity, layering and a lingering finish.
James Suckling
Aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco leaf and iodine. Full-bodied and rather juicy. The silky tannins are coated in black fruit. Nicely balanced and long.