2023 Hourglass, Blueline Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - 750ML

96 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

Hourglass’ Blueline Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Calistoga area of Napa Valley, where warmer northern-valley conditions give Bordeaux varieties depth, polish, and expressive dark-fruited character. The 2023 vintage is beautifully composed, marrying ripe Cabernet concentration with savory nuance, fine tannin, and the estate’s hallmark sense of mineral lift.

Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.

Tasting Notes: Layers of black cherry, cassis, red plum, and blackberry unfold with notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, cedar, baking spice, and subtle savory herbs. The palate is medium to full-bodied, polished, and deeply flavored, with refined oak integration, supple texture, and a long, balanced finish.

Structure: Concentrated and age-worthy, with fine-grained tannins, polished fruit, and excellent balance.

Drink Window: 2028–2045.

Decanting: Decant for 2–3 hours if opening in its youth to allow the fruit, oak, and tannic structure to fully integrate. From the mid-2030s onward, a gentle 30–60 minute decant should be sufficient, primarily to remove sediment and let the aromatics settle.

This is a poised and collectible Napa Cabernet for those who appreciate richness without excess. It will bring impressive presence to a special dinner now with proper decanting, while offering the structure and depth to reward careful cellaring for decades.