98pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Ad Vivum 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and issues seductive notions of black fruit preserves, warm blueberries and violets with subtle hints of dark chocolate, licorice and cedar chest. Full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of juicy black fruits, supported by firm-yet-plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing with great length and purity. Long. 350 cases are due to be made.

98pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts with open-knit expressive scents of black cherry compote, warm cassis, and cinnamon toast with nuances of clove oil, roses, and dark chocolate. The Full-bodied palate is rich, plush, seamless, layered, long, and decadent.

98pts Decanter

The personal project of winemaker Chris Phelps of Inglenook. Since his days at Dominus in the 1990s, he continues to show a deft hand with Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are sourced entirely from the Sleeping Lady vineyard in Yountville. Seductively fresh, giving up earth, black fruit, dried thyme and brown baking spices with hints of tobacco. Full-bodied on entry, striking a lovely balance between saturated black and blue-toned fruit with savoury wild herbs, conifer and earth, just hinting at spearmint, and bolstered by fine-grained tannins and a firm acid backbone. Long, layered and cellarworthy.

97pts Jeb Dunnuck

A gorgeous wine from Chris Phelps, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard sports a dense purple hue as well as awesome aromatics of cassis, violets, flowers, and spicy oak. It’s young and unevolved, with medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It ranks with the finest wines I’ve tasted from this vineyard. All Cabernet aged 20 months in 70% new French oak, it has two decades or more of prime drinking ahead of it.

96pts James Suckling

Blueberries, blackberries, violets and blackcurrants. Crushed stones, too. Full-bodied with soft, creamy-textured tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Juicy and velvety tannins. All here. Beautiful now, but will be better in 2025.

Winemaker's Notes

The 2019 Ad Vivum Cabernet represents one of Napa's best recent vintages, made with 100% cabernet sauvignon grapes from two micro-blocks at Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville along the Mayacamas Mountains. Winemaker Chris Phelps has worked with Petrus, Dominus and Caymus and he made just 430 cases of this allocation only wine for his own label. Dense tannic structure and youthfully energetic cassis mean the wine will drink well for several decades to come.