PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Robert Craig Winery built its reputation on a single idea: that the best Napa Valley Cabernet comes from the mountains. The winery’s three flagship Cabernets come from three mountain appellations (Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, and Mount Veeder), and each shows a different face of mountain fruit. The Mount Veeder bottling is the most structured and powerful of them, and the winery calls it “simply a massive, iconic example of what is possible in the Mount Veeder AVA.”
Mount Veeder, on the western side of the Napa Valley, is a steep, rocky, high-elevation appellation where thin soils and slopes restrict vine vigor and produce small berries with intense flavor, and where tannin tends to be firm. The 2022 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot, at 14.5% ABV, and Vinous’s review identifies the source as the Amentet Vineyard.
Both critics who reviewed it scored it 94. Vinous’s Antonio Galloni (December 2024): “The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Amentet Vineyard is another stellar wine from Robert Craig. Mint, iron, white pepper, menthol and crushed rocks all weave through a core of intense dark-toned fruit. This needs cellaring, as the tannins are pretty imposing in the early going. A dollop of Cabernet Franc adds an attractive upper register of aromatics.” James Suckling: “Beautiful aromas of dark fruit, baking spices and violets give way to richly layered black cherries, blueberries, spearmint and crème de cassis on the palate. Polished but significant tannins round out the texture and lead to a lingering finish. Drink or hold.”
The winery’s own notes describe “dried cocoa flake, pencil shavings, cassis, dark floral undertones, and mineral accents” emerging “after a couple of minutes of air,” and “a tannin structure that is profound, but the tannins remain juicy, round and well developed so that the wine enjoys a seamless weight on the palate and a finish that extends beyond expectation.”
This is a Cabernet that benefits from time. Galloni’s advice is to cellar it, and a decant of an hour or two helps if you open one young. It’s a good pairing for ribeye, lamb, and braised short ribs, and a good match for customers who like the structure of a mountain Cabernet. For context, Vinous scored the 2021 Mount Veeder 96 and the 2023 97 (November 2025; due for release in fall 2026).
Robert Craig 2022 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Robert Craig Winery from the Amentet Vineyard in the Mount Veeder AVA, Napa Valley, California. A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, 750ml.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous — 94 Points (December 2024):
“The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Amentet Vineyard is another stellar wine from Robert Craig. Mint, iron, white pepper, menthol and crushed rocks all weave through a core of intense dark-toned fruit. This needs cellaring, as the tannins are pretty imposing in the early going. A dollop of Cabernet Franc adds an attractive upper register of aromatics.”
James Suckling — 94 Points:
“Beautiful aromas of dark fruit, baking spices and violets give way to richly layered black cherries, blueberries, spearmint and crème de cassis on the palate. Polished but significant tannins round out the texture and lead to a lingering finish. Drink or hold.”
Robert Craig Winery (tasting notes):
“Dried cocoa flake, pencil shavings, cassis, dark floral undertones and mineral accents all emerge from the glass after a couple of minutes of air. The tannin structure is profound, but the tannins remain juicy, round and well developed so that the wine enjoys a seamless weight on the palate and a finish that extends beyond expectation.”
Nose
Dark fruit, violets, and baking spice, with dried cocoa flake, pencil shavings, cassis, and mineral accents.
Palate
Full-bodied and layered, with black cherry, blueberry, cassis, spearmint, mint, iron, and white pepper, with polished but substantial tannin.
Finish
Long and lingering, with crushed rock and a mineral, mentholated lift.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Mount Veeder AVA, Napa Valley, California |
| Blend | 91% Cabernet Sauvignon · 7% Cabernet Franc · 1% Malbec · 1% Petit Verdot |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Producer | Robert Craig Winery |
| Vineyard | Amentet Vineyard |
| ABV | 14.5% |
| Critics | Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 94 · James Suckling 94 |
| Drinking Window | Decant now, or cellar (Galloni: “needs cellaring”) |
| Style / Identity | A powerful, structured, mineral, mountain-grown Napa Cabernet |
| Aromas & Flavors | Black cherry, blueberry, cassis, violets, spearmint, pencil shavings, crushed rock |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Decant for an hour or two; serve at about 62-65°F.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
Your cart is empty
Start shopping
