93 — A ripe and aromatic red with notes of blackberries and currants, licorice, tobacco leaves and coffee. Full body. An array of chewy tannins and ripe fruit character on the palate. Long, velvety finish. Solid. Needs two or three years to soften. Best after 2024.
— James Suckling
93 — Ripe and juicy, delivering a very focused set of applewood, tobacco, red and black currant and bramble notes layered tightly together. The iron hint underpinning it all adds length and range. Reserved in style and nicely done. Best from 2023 through 2038. 550 cases made.
— JM (Wine Spectator)
94 — This is a thick, oak-driven wine, seasoned in clove and tobacco, that shows a wealth of concentration and tannin. Notes of dried herb, mocha and coffee bean accent a full-bodied array of dark currant and berry fruit. Enjoy from 2028–2033.
— Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
93 — From a grape-growing family with deep roots in the Napa Valley and a well-sited vineyard just west of Highway 29 on the Rutherford Bench, Chaix’s 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon was made by Sarah Fowler (Peju Province). Marked by classic scents of mint, black cherries and cassis, it’s full-bodied, ripe and round, moderately concentrated, with a rich, velvety texture and ample length. Hints of caramel, mocha and cigar box already appear on the finish, so perhaps this is a wine that should be consumed on the young side, by 2030 or so.
— Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
93 — A firm and silky red with chewy tannins that are fruit-coated and delicious. Full body, lightly chewy texture and a flavorful finish.
– James Suckling
94+ — The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with notes of candied violets, licorice and scorched earth over a crème de cassis and stewed plums core with a waft of sautéed herbs. Full-bodied and packed with black fruit preserves and savory accents, it has a firm, chewy frame and finishes with emerging exotic spices.
– Lisa Perrotti-Brown for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
93 —From fruit in Rutherford, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon was made by Sam Baxter and spent 22 months in 60% new French oak. It gives up a spicy, complex bouquet of spiced plums, sandalwood, mint, and incense. This gives way to a totally charming, balanced Cabernet that has medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded texture, and present yet sweet tannins. It’s a sexy, forward charmer to drink over the coming 10-12 years.
— Jeb Dunnuck
95 pts — Blackberry and blueberry aromas with dark chocolate. Full-bodied, layered and juicy. Some dusty tannins. Extremely well made for the vintage. Superb wine for the price. Drink in 2020 and onwards.
— James Suckling
93 pts — The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chaix Wines comes from Rutherford and sports a deep purple color to go with classic notes of blue fruits, violets, hints of crushed rock and leafy herbs. It’s ripe, medium to full-bodied, moderately concentrated and has polished tannin and a great finish!
— Jeb Dunnuck
92 pts — This has a pretty floral nose, a delicate aspect that is in contrast with the thick integrated tannin and depth of baked cherry tart, caramel and oak. Black pepper and dried herb season the full-bodied density well.
— Wine Enthusiast, Virginie Boone,
Gold Medal Winner, San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition.
— winejudging.com
97 pts —Nearly opaque purple, spicy blackberry, dark chocolate, black cherry, cedar, and rosemary fill the senses. Lots of clove, anise and intense black fruits linger on the finish. Well put together and framed for luxuriousness and longevity. This has a bit more edge and sophistication than many other 2014s I have tasted and will drink well for the next 5-15 years. Impressive.
Growers know their grapevines on a deeper level than any winemaker, making Chaix’s Cabernet Sauvignon a rare treat from a Rutherford vineyard that’s made wines like Phelps’ Insignia a household name. The 2014 combines Rutherford’s signature minerality with ripe cherry, cassis, and plum tones that make having just one sip impossible. The 13th bonded winery in Napa, the Chaix family knows a thing or two about coaxing the best from their Rutherford Bench soil, and the 2014 Cabernet is no exception. Get it while you can!
— Alex Casella, WSET Advanced
97 points — Chaix is one elite Rutherford site that produces the best 100% Estate Rutherford Bench Cabernet. Upon release, the 2013 Chaix Cabernet will leave all other pretenders behind. The berries are excessively dark (violet/black) and full of black currant, dark chocolate, red cherries, tight cedar, red licorice, cranberry, and plum. Chaix strips Rutherford down to it’s core and perfect expression of 100% Rutherford magic in a monumental vintage.
— Christopher Sawyer, Certified Sommelier, Journalist & Wine Judge
Red cherries, grilled blackberry, spice, cassis, dark chocolate and fresh herb. Medium+ body with fine- and light-grained tannins. Very nice—elegant and savory.
— Fred Swann, JJ Buckley Fine Wines
One of the standouts of the day… The Chaix family has been growing grapes in Rutherford for other wineries for over 100 years but also produce their own wine as well. They made 500 cases of 2012 Cab that has a very intense nose of cedar, dark fruit, and earthiness to it. As you taste this wine you will love the bright wild fruit, a blend of blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry. The sharp acidity, layers of spices and soft structured tannins makes it a delight to enjoy.
— Steve Ferree, Examiner.com
My first note about it reads, “Cab all the way.” Which is how I should have driven home, but actually meant that the wine smelled like textbook Rutherford Cabernet. I love restraint in wine. In fact, I think that almost every great wine has restraint. The Chaix has that. Made by Sam Baxter, the Chaix is seamless. Maybe not the best wine in the room (way too hard to tell at this point, and what do I know?), it was filled with character and quality. Black fruits, loamy, even a kind of stony character, the wine had so much personality and life, I was jealous. I need more of both.
— HoseMaster of Wine, July 2015, Day in the Dust Tasting
2012 Chaix Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford: Stylish fruit-driven Cabernet with a core of fruit and a delicate herbal note. Elegance personified, a superb wine from Sam Baxter, son of ex-Rutherford Hill wine maker Phil Baxter.
— Dan Berger, Vintages Experience Newsletter
This is top-tier Napa Cab at an undiscovered, under-the-radar price! At the Rutherford Dust Society tasting of 2010s, Chaix was a standout according to Examiner.com who said “a very intense nose of cedar, dark fruit, safe and earthiness to it. As you taste this wine you will love the bright wild fruit, a blend of blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry. The sharp acidity, layers of spices and soft structured tannins makes it a delight to enjoy.” Don’t miss it!
— wineexpress.com
Their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Chaix Vineyard Rutherford is big and burly. This one can be aged for another 10 years, and not skip a beat. If you love tannins… enjoy now with a cut of beef that has a lot of marbleized fat in it, like a rib-eye, to round out the tannins.
— Juicy Tales by Jo Diaz, Wine Blog
