Amici Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Amici Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a 750ml, 14.8% ABV Napa Valley red wine sourced from elite Calistoga and Rutherford vineyard sites. Awarded 95 points by James Suckling, this reserve-level bottling also earned 94 points from both Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck, who included it in his Top 100 Napa Bordeaux Wines Under $125.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.8%  |  Origin: Calistoga, Napa Valley, California  |  Reserve  |  Winery: Amici Cellars

Production & Heritage

Amici Cellars sources this reserve bottling from three of Napa Valley's most respected vineyards: George III, Morisoli, and Hudson. The blend — 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot — is aged entirely in new French oak barrels, which contributes layered structure and refined tannin. Winemaker Anthony Biagi designed this cuvée to marry the lush, ripe fruit and Rutherford Dust character of valley floor sites with the firm backbone and ageability that Napa Valley's finest mountain-influenced fruit delivers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe cassis and juicy black cherry before unfolding into delicate raspberry, anise, and dried sage. Beneath those primary fruits, there are subtle layers of lead pencil, crushed stone, and a faint savory quality reminiscent of charcuterie.

Taste: Entry on the palate is bright and fruit-forward, with succulent black cherry and currant meeting mid-palate notes of cedar box, toasted vanilla, and mocha. As it develops, classic Cabernet spice emerges alongside leather, dried herbs, and dark chocolate, all held together by a medium-to-full body with elegant, perfectly balanced weight.

Finish: The finish is long and persistent, with lingering plum, dark spice, and fine-grained tannins that speak to the wine's aging potential. A thread of menthol freshness keeps the close vibrant rather than heavy.

How to Drink Amici Reserve

This wine is best enjoyed at cellar temperature in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass, either on its own or with thirty minutes of decanting to open up its secondary aromatics. While it's built for sipping, its intensity and structure make it a strong foundation for a bold red wine cocktail: a Cabernet Sangria benefits from its deep fruit concentration; a New York Sour gains complexity from the wine's spice and oak character when floated on top; and a classic Kalimotxo becomes unexpectedly sophisticated when made with a wine of this caliber.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley wine collector or Cabernet enthusiast
• Anchoring a high-end steak dinner or holiday prime rib spread
• Cellaring for five to ten years as part of a curated wine library
• Marking a milestone anniversary, promotion, or retirement celebration

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Amici Reserve taste like? Amici Reserve delivers rich black cherry, currant, and plum fruit layered with cedar, toasted vanilla, mocha, and dried herbs. The palate is medium-to-full bodied with elegant tannins and a long, spice-driven finish.

How does Amici Reserve compare to the standard Amici Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? The Reserve draws from a more selective set of vineyard sources — George III, Morisoli, and Hudson — and is aged exclusively in new French oak, giving it greater concentration and structural complexity. The standard Amici Napa Valley Cabernet is approachable and fruit-forward by comparison, making the Reserve the more age-worthy and layered bottling.

Is Amici Reserve good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a wine designed for contemplative drinking, with enough depth and tannin architecture to reward slow, attentive sipping, especially after a brief decant.

Where is Amici Reserve made? Amici Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Amici Cellars in Calistoga, at the northern end of Napa Valley, California. The grapes are sourced from the George III, Morisoli, and Hudson vineyards across Napa Valley's valley floor and hillside sites.

What foods pair well with Amici Reserve? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's dark fruit and oak spice. Braised short ribs mirror its richness and savory depth. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese echoes the toasted, nutty oak tones. Lamb chops with a rosemary crust highlight the wine's herbal undertones. Dark chocolate truffles pair naturally with the mocha and cocoa notes on the finish.

What sizes does Amici Reserve come in? Amici Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Amici Reserve worth the price? Positioned as a premium reserve-tier Napa Valley Cabernet, it competes with wines at considerably higher price points — a fact reinforced by Jeb Dunnuck naming it to his Top 100 Napa Bordeaux Wines Under $125. For a wine earning 94–95 point scores from three major critics, it represents strong value within the Napa Reserve Cabernet category.

Why Amici Reserve?

What separates this bottling from the crowded field of Napa Valley Cabernets is its vineyard pedigree and critical consistency. The combination of George III, Morisoli, and Hudson fruit — sites that have supplied grapes to some of Napa's most celebrated labels — gives winemaker Anthony Biagi raw material that few reserve programs can match at this price tier. Aging in 100% new French oak adds polish without masking the terroir-driven character of those vineyards, and the 95-point score from James Suckling alongside dual 94-point ratings from Parker and Dunnuck confirms the wine delivers at a level that justifies serious attention. For collectors and enthusiasts looking for a reserve Cabernet that balances power, finesse, and genuine Napa Valley provenance, this is one of the stronger arguments in the category.