Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon The Ark Vineyard 2021 (750ML)

100 WI / 100 DE / 98 JD

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2021 The Ark Vineyard needs a shake or two to wake up intense scents of crème de cassis, red currant jelly, and blackberry pie, leading to a complex undercurrent of mint tea, sandalwood, and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate sparkles with energetic black and red berry flavors, supported by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and minerally. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Jayson Woodbridge is dynamic, complex, and downright pleasure-packed and one of the stars of the show from his lineup of 2021 wines I tasted in September of 2024. It bursts out of the glass with pure ruby fruit, white truffle, white pepper, black cherry liqueur, and spiced plums layered with delicate cedarwood notes. Full-bodied with the purest of raspberry and blackberry fruit, the wine is framed by a foundation of ultrafine-grained tannins and profound depth on the mid-palate. Nuances of cigar box, saddle leather, and vanilla weave a lattice work around the fruit character, complemented by umami-rich saline minerals. Incredibly precise and pure, it’s further enhanced by blood orange acidity and a zesty, smoky quality, finishing with a hint of salted pink Himalayan sea salt. Just 4.8 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted on this 18.21-hectare property, located on the steep southeast-facing slopes of Glass Mountain in St. Helena. It was purchased in 1999 and’s also home to Woodbridge’s underground Ring winery and caves. - JC, Decanter

Starting out the lineup, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Vineyard offers a sensational array of darker currant-like fruit intermixed with new leather, baking spices, chocolate, and sappy tobacco. These all carry to a deep, full-bodied, layered, powerful 2021 with velvety tannins and a killer finish. I love it even today, but this beauty will have 20-30 years of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck