Reviews
- Wine Enthusiast -
- Wine Spectator -
Technical Details
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- US
- California
- North Coast
- Napa Valley
- From 3 vineyards in Napa (2 in St. Helena and 1 in Oakville)
- 28% new French oak from Coopers: Ermitage and Saury
- 19 months
- 15%
Raymond Red Wine Generations Napa Valley 2020
23% OFF RETAIL!
Add 2 bottles to the cart and receive an additional 34% off!
For over 50 years, Raymond has stood as a pioneer of the Napa Valley, with a heritage that stretches all the way back to the Beringer Brothers. Roy Raymond came to work under Napa pioneers Jacob and Frederic Beringer just as Prohibition was repealed in 1933, eventually marrying Jacob’s daughter, Martha Jane. One generation later, the Raymond family set out on their own, purchasing their Rutherford estate and laying the groundwork for their own eponymous winery. For decades, the Raymond family built a reputation as a top producer in Napa, but in 2009, a flamboyant infusion of color and character came on board, as Jean-Charles Boisset took to the helm, adding his own flair to the winery’s reputation for quality and value.
Generations has been the winery’s flagship since 1994 – and this 94 point Cabernet-based blend shows gorgeously in the here and now. Brawny, dense, and elegantly powerful – this is classic Napa Cab in style, with texture and complexity infused by the mere presence of Bordeaux’s other major players. Baker’s chocolate, spicy oak, and a veritable medley of cigar-box sensations take the lead, and a slowly building core of inky dark plums, brandied cherries, and crushed blackberries and black currants gather their momentum. Explosive accents of charred graphite and an ancient cultural relic’s monolithic facade give this structure to spare. It’s bold and screaming for a decant, but responds quickly and welcomes warmly for all that. Only 485 cases make this a rarity – and undoubtedly one of the enduring highlights of the vintage.
It comes as little surprise that Phillipe Melka – one of the world’s most prominent winemakers – has been tapped to craft this best of the best Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon. His signature lush textures and carefully woven elegance infuse this larger-than-life offering, and this is a worthy collectible even at the winery’s full price of $195. Our rather tasty price of just $149.95 seems a steal! Heck, we’ll even throw in complimentary shipping on those orders! Can’t be beat, right? So go get some!
PAIRING IDEAS: We did a company lunch the other day, and Napa’s newest (and already TOP) BBQ joint delivered the goods with some smoky-sweet pork ribs! Thanks, Stateline!