97pts Jeb Dunnuck

Stunning stuff, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label offers a full-bodied, deep, majestic style as well as beautiful aromatics of cr me de cassis, violets, flowers, and nicely integrated background oak. It has ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a regal, age-worthy style that has so much to love. It, however, is not going to be for the instant gratification crowd and this actually shut down pretty quickly with air. Rating: 97+

97pts International Wine Review

The 2021 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon from Turnbull is composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was sourced from Fortuna (66%) and Leopoldina (34%). This immediately begins to impress as it reveals beautiful aromas of ripe blackberries, dark cherries and hints of blueberries, which are woven together with exotic spices, violets, dusty gravel and hints of dark chocolate that all emerge from the glass. On the palate this offers a wonderful full-bodied texture, with a well-structured frame supported by beautifully polished tannins. It possesses wonderful concentration and depth, along with excellent freshness through the opulent finish. This is a simply fabulous release from Turnbull that is excellent today, but also shows promise for a wonderful evolution ahead.

96pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, drawn from the Fortuna (66%) and Leopoldina (34%) vineyards. A best-barrel selection, it offers up classic Oakville scents of black cherries and loamy earth, with a gentle cassis undertone. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with a long, velvety finish, this is a solid wine, with as much as two decades of age-ability.

96pts Wine Independent

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of warm cassis, stewed plums, and Morello cherries soar from the glass with sparks of baking spices and mint tea. Full-bodied, rich, and plush, the mouth is coated with juicy black fruits and the finish is satisfyingly spicy.

Winemaker Notes

Irresistible ripened plums and opulent dusty blackberries lift the senses, alluring the nose to tertiary notes of delicate florals and intriguing mineral edges. Balance is the defining quality of this wine; even in its youth, 2021 Black Label is resolutely complete from beginning to end. Every element is in place, as dimpled yet silky tannins unfold with grace and finesse, revealing a core of power and depth. Broad strokes of black mulberries, crème de cassis, and juniper accelerate through the mid-palate with captivating width and focus. This thrilling dance culminates in a stunning finish of opulent and elegant dark fruits that persist with each sip, leaving an indelible impression of the near-perfect growing season that shaped the Fortuna Vineyard—full of power and sinue—and Leopoldina Vineyard—full of poise and intention—in the 2021 vintage.

Winery Notes

In the Spring of 1993 California publisher, Patrick O'Dell, purchased Johnson Turnbull Vineyards and renamed the property Turnbull Wine Cellars. The remodeling and expansion of the facility has been completed. In addition, the wines have gone through change due to the inclusion of fruit from additional vineyards purchased by Patrick. Turnbull Wine Cellars has 145 acres of vineyards within the Oakville and Calistoga districts of Napa Valley representing a diverse range of microclimates and terroirs within these fabled grape-growing centers of Napa Valley.