[93 Antonio Galloni, vinous] The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint jumps from the glass with freshly cut flowers, mint, sweet spices and red berries. The flavors are wonderfully alive and precise in this mid-weight, delineated Cabernet Sauvignon. With time in the glass, the fruit begins to emerge as the wine opens up and shows a little more juiciness. Dark red berries and sweet spices linger on the close. The 2011 was from a variety of sources; Vine Hill Ranch, Lambert, Evans, Broken Rock, Heimark and Mole Hill. The ability to blend fruit from a number of sources gave consulting winemaker Philippe Melka the opportunity to get the most out of the vintage, and he crushed it with this superb Cabernet Sauvignon[90 James Suckling] A thick, dense red with dried-berry and cherry character, plus hints of toasted oak. Coffee, too. Full body with chocolate aftertaste. Drink or hold.[89 Wine Advocate] I noted that of the six sources used in the well-made 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint, five of them are hillside locations off the valley floor, which no doubt explains its success in this irregular year. The wines deep ruby/purple is followed by notes of black currants, blackberries, charcoal, forest floor and a hint of cigar tobacco. Impressively endowed for a 2011, this soft Cabernet should be consumed over the next 7-10 years. Winemaker's Notes: Soft and generous, the 2011 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon has attractive silky tannins that underlie a bed of ripe cranberries, blackberries, licorice, flowers and spices. Complementing the red fruit character you will find elegant touches of dry leaves and cigar box. There is gorgeous depth and purity to the fruit in this round, supple, early drinking wine.
