Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the St. Eden 2014 BOND

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep garnet hue with intense violet reflections, testifying to a remarkable phenolic concentration.

Nose

The bouquet reveals a complex, layered aromatic architecture. Black fruits dominate with notes of blackcurrant cream, black cherries and blueberries. These fruity aromas intertwine harmoniously with a distinctive mineral signature evoking graphite and wet stone. Herbaceous touches of fresh sage bring a Mediterranean dimension, while nuances of cedar, sweet spices and pencil lead add depth. With aeration, the wine gradually reveals notes of dark chocolate, cocoa and baking spices.

Palate

The attack reveals an immediate fruity opulence, quickly balanced by a remarkable crystalline acidity that creates a dynamic tension running through the palate. The tannins stand out for their exceptional finesse: dense and muscular, they display a grainy texture while remaining surprisingly silky. The black fruit flavors persist, accompanied by notes of cocoa, black truffle, cedar wood and roasted herbs. The finish carries on remarkably, with an aromatic persistence of several minutes in which the black fruit gives way to a gradual, elegant mineral dryness.

Food and wine pairing

This Cabernet Sauvignon pairs naturally with beef in all its forms: braised roasts, grilled cuts, pan-seared entrecôtes or richly seasoned stews. Game, particularly venison and wild boar, also makes for a remarkable pairing, especially when prepared with wine sauces and herb marinades. Hard, well-aged cheeses such as aged Gruyère, Comté or Parmigiano Reggiano complement this wine harmoniously. Dishes incorporating aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary or sage enhance the wine's herbaceous notes.

Service and storage

The St. Eden 2014 should be opened between thirty minutes and an hour before serving to allow for optimal aeration. The ideal serving temperature is around 16°C. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve and improve until approximately 2030–2050. A minimum of six years' bottle aging is recommended for optimal expression. Storage conditions should be stable: temperature between 10 and 13°C, complete darkness and relative humidity of around 70%.

Other characteristics

This wine has received exceptional ratings from international critics: 99 points from James Suckling and 96 points from Wine Advocate, confirming its status among the finest expressions of Californian Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2014 vintage.

An exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley combining power and mineral elegance

The estate

Founded in 1997 by visionary entrepreneur Bill Harlan and winemaker Bob Levy, BOND embodies a singular approach to viticulture in Napa Valley, California. The estate stands out for its philosophy inspired by Burgundy: five single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon cuvées sourced from hillside vineyards – Melbury, Vecina, St. Eden, Pluribus and Quella – managed in partnership without owning them outright. Each site, selected from nearly 80 properties evaluated, produces between 450 and 600 cases annually. Since 2020, Will Harlan, the founder's son, has led the estate as Managing Director, supported by Cory Empting, promoted to Managing Director of Winegrowing. This generational transition forms part of the bicentennial planning horizon established by Bill Harlan, aimed at creating a lasting family legacy comparable to the great European winegrowing dynasties.

The vineyard

The St. Eden vineyard spans eleven hectares immediately north of the Oakville crossroads in Napa Valley. Set on a small rocky hill whose name recalls a historic nineteenth-century designation, this site benefits from a distinctive north-facing exposure. The soils present a remarkable geological composition: fractured, iron-rich volcanic rock originating from landslides in the Vaca Mountains. This ferruginous composition lends the wine a particular minerality, a slight saline touch and the naturally high acidity characteristic of the site. Altitude ranges between 45 and 60 meters, creating a thermal balance that favors slow, gradual ripening of the grapes. Old vines planted in this rocky soil naturally yield reduced crops, concentrating resources into a limited number of exceptionally high-quality bunches.

The vintage

2014 marked the third consecutive year of drought in California, creating water stress conditions that paradoxically produced wines of exceptional aromatic concentration and intensity. An early spring allowed for early budbreak, followed by a growing season ahead of the usual calendar. For the St. Eden vineyard, canopy vigor allowed the grapes to ripen gradually in dappled light rather than under constant direct sunlight. This gradual ripening, spanning from late August to the first week of September, allowed for a harmonious accumulation of flavors while preserving the naturally high acidity characteristic of the site. The harvest was carried out in several passes, beginning with the rockiest plots where concentration was at its peak.

Winemaking and aging

The St. Eden 2014 was vinified according to BOND's rigorous protocols, with meticulous parcel selection. Approximately twenty-five percent of the harvest was eliminated to ensure that only the finest fruit went into the final blend. Aging took place in new French oak barrels for approximately twenty months, allowing the oaky flavors to integrate harmoniously with the base fruit without ever letting the wood dominate. This measured approach to aging characterizes the BOND philosophy and sets its wines apart through their balance of power and finesse.

Grape variety

100% Cabernet Sauvignon