93pts James Suckling

A powerful yet slightly restrained wine with sweet spices on the nose and generous dark-fruit flavors on the palate. A full body and fine-grained tannins support black cherries, star anise, black licorice, iron and blackcurrants.

92pts Tasting Panel

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Affinity is a terrific entry-level offering from Robert Craig. Floral overtones and vibrant acids lend lovely polish to match the Affinity's mid-weight personality. This is so well balanced. Most of this fruit is from young vines on Howell Mountain.

92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 8% Merlot and 2% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, Robert Craig's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Affinity is primarily assembled from more forward lots from the winery's holdings on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder but does include some Rutherford fruit as well. Aged 18 months in 40% new French oak, it boasts bold aromas of blueberries, cassis, vanilla and cedar.

92pts Vinous

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Affinity is a terrific entry-level offering from Robert Craig. Floral overtones and vibrant acids lend lovely polish to match the Affinity's mid-weight personality. This is so well balanced. Most of this fruit is from young vines on Howell Mountain.

Tasting Notes

The mineral, graphite and black thorny-vine fruits are all on full display in this mountain sourced wine. The tiny clusters that proliferated in 2022 at high elevations in the Napa Valley provide strength and structure in this deeply colored Bordeaux blend. A more judicious use of new French Oak helps the dark fruit to pour from the glass and extend on the palate.

About the Wine

The 2022 vintage of Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon is marked by an increase in power and complexity over more forward-fruit driven wines from Southern Napa in previous vintages. For this vintage, we looked to our mountain estate vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder to provide the backbone of the wine, rounded out by a handful of talented Napa Valley growers who have long contributed to this mountain and hillside sourced Bordeaux blend. We continue to produce a wine that is powerful and ageworthy, yet supple enough to be enjoyed upon release.

Blend: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 2% Petite Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc