The 2019 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee is a proprietary blend that has garnered significant attention from wine critics. This Napa Valley red wine is notable for its depth, complexity, and potential for aging.
James Suckling describes this wine as "a big wine with lots of richness and some warmth from the ripe fruit." Highlighting its fruit profile, he notes the presence of "blackberries, boysenberries and spice with some pine needles," and emphasizes its "full and chewy" texture due to substantial tannins. Suckling advises that the wine needs additional bottle age to soften, suggesting it will be "better after 2024" (jamessuckling.com).
Jeb Dunnuck gives an outstanding review, scoring it 99 points and calling it "just about pure perfection." He praises its bouquet of "pure cassis and blackberry fruits" along with "Pauillac-like notes of graphite, tobacco, toasted spices, and chalky minerality." Dunnuck highlights its balance, despite its richness and full-bodied nature, and suggests that it will evolve beautifully over the next 40 years (jebdunnuck.com).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awards the wine 98+ points, noting its serious and concentrated nature compared to Lail's Blueprint bottling. The review points out deep scents of "cassis and rich loam, accented by hints of cedar and dried sage," and describes the finish as "long, velvety, seamless and elegant" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
Antonio Galloni of Vinous scores the wine 96 points, referring to it as a "total knock-out." He mentions its "tremendous vertical intensity and tons of sheer class" with flavors of "inky dark fruit, graphite, cloves, licorice and sweet French oak" (Vinous).
Wine Enthusiast also gives a high score of 98 points, calling it a "tremendous powerhouse." Reviewer Virginie Boone highlights flavors of "rich truffle, cassis and black cherry," and notes its "sinewy, sophisticated and youthfully shy" nature. Boone recommends enjoying this wine between 2029 and 2039 (Wine Enthusiast).
Decanter awards it 98 points as well, appreciating the "alluring black fruit aromas with dried herbs and cedar spice." The review mentions its "rich, decadent layers of blackberry and black cherry" supported by "cedar-plank tannins" (Decanter).
Overall, the 2019 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvee is a highly praised wine with strong potential for aging, offering a rich and complex profile that will reward patience.