93pts Decanter

Sourced from sites in Yountville and Coombsville, this wine is aged for 18 months in approximately 60% new French oak. Winemaker Julien Fayard's own label, established in 2017, delivers a beautifully bright freshness with blackberry, blackcurrant, and fig paste, accented by a hint of walnut husk. The palate is wonderfully full and rich, showcasing pure fruit flavours alongside nuances of mocha spice and sweet cedar. Firm yet inviting tannins provide a solid foundation for the supple dark-toned fruit and spice to linger—and they do, for quite some time—a remarkably well-balanced wine in this challenging vintage.

89pts Wine Spectator

Açaí and boysenberry compote notes are flush in feel, carried by a modest structure through the creamy, heavily toasted finish, where a subtle tug of alder provides grounding. Drink now through 2029.

Winemaker Notes

Julien’s 2022 Classic Napa Valley Cabernet delivers on the promise of its name with rich fruit complexity and sleek textures. Bold blackberry and plum aromas mingle with a touch of petrichor on the nose. The palate surges with luscious notes of black-skinned plum, savory blackberry compote, black raspberry and wild blueberry, enriched by gentle, mocha-tinged tannins and the delicate bitterness of extra-dark chocolate. Aromas of fresh red fruits, cloves, caramel and dried plum invigorate the refreshing finish.