92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District showcases dark fruit tones—a blend of black cherries and cassis, plus hints of dark chocolate and dried fruit. It's full-bodied, framed by softly dusty tannins on the lingering finish.

91pts Jeb Dunnuck

Based on 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Petit Verdot from Spring Mountain, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon offers beautiful blue fruits, violets, and chocolate, intermixed with minerality and sappy herbs. Medium-bodied and fresh on the palate, it shows elegant balance, fine tannins, and a beautiful sense of focus. Drink over the coming 8-10 years.

James Suckling

The nose offers oak-driven aromas of cedar and cassia bark supported by notes of blackcurrants and Damson plums. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins and balanced acidity, offering dark cherries, tobacco and wood. Too much oak influence. Drink or hold.

Tasting Notes

The 2022 Spring Mountain Cabernet is one concentrated wine. The opaque purple color is much darker than previous years. The aromatics fill the air with cassis, dark plum and black licorice. Coffee grounds, cola and dark chocolate are also prevalent. The wine is full and silky on the palate. Flavors of mocha, anise and dark cherries fill the mouth. The tannins are full and chalky with some firm mountain acidity for balance. The chocolate covered dark cherry finish lingers for a long time. This concentrated dark Cabernet will only get better over time. For those with patience holding this wine for 13-15 years will reward them (2024-2026).

About the Winery

Having grown up in Vancouver and Stockton respectively, Fiona and Hal Barnett became enamored with Napa Valley through frequent visits on the weekends of the early 1980’s.  A vision began to form, and after an extensive search, they purchased a 40-acre property located atop Spring Mountain in 1983. The lot consisted of nothing but trees, rocks, shrubs, and dozens of rattlesnakes. After extensive work clearing, grading, and terracing the land, the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted the following year. Since the very beginning, the intent was to produce small amounts of hand crafted wines that would showcase the unique characteristics found in grapes cultivated on such challenging, high elevation terrain. 

Over the next five years, as the vines developed and the estate was established, the Barnett’s commuted from their San Francisco home. Barnett Vineyard’s first harvest was in 1989 and yielded 232 cases of “Spring Mountain Cabernet”.

Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot