93 pts - Wine Advocate
The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, concentrated, dense ruby/purple-colored wine. Full-bodied and muscular, it exhibits copious quantities of black currant fruit intermixed with blackberries, minerals, cedar, and Chinese black tea-like notes. The tannin is sweet, in a vintage where this component can be slightly coarse. It can be drunk now or aged for 25 years. - WA, RP (1/2000)
94 pts - Wine Spectator
Still youthful and potent, this is very rich and concentrated, with layers of currant, black cherry and blackberry fruit that's well-defined. This is still quite tannic, yet it's deftly balanced, finishing with a long, persistent finish. Easily the best of four bottles tasted.--1996 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2014. 2,000 cases made. (05/2007)
92 pts - Vinous
Deep ruby. Slightly roasted, inky aromas of dark berries and licorice. Lush and very smooth in the middle palate, but currently a bit dominated by its underlying structure. Hiding more than it showing today. Tannins are substantial but quite velvety for the vintage.- Stephen Tanzer (5/1999)