Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is a 750ml, 14.8% ABV mountain-grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the Atlas Peak appellation. Awarded 95 points by Antonio Galloni, this vintage showcases the intensity and structure that high-elevation Napa vineyards produce at their best.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.8%  |  Origin: Atlas Peak, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2014  |  Producer: Au Sommet Winery

Production & Heritage

Au Sommet draws its fruit from a 45-acre property perched atop Atlas Peak in the western Vaca Mountain range — one of the highest vineyard sites in Napa Valley at 2,100 feet above sea level. The 2014 vintage is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, a small addition that deepens color and adds aromatic complexity. The extreme elevation creates a microclimate defined by intense sun exposure above the fog line and dramatic diurnal temperature swings, resulting in wines with concentrated fruit, firm tannic architecture, and a mineral backbone rarely found on the valley floor.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with high-toned red berries, Santa Rosa plum, and blackcurrant before shifting into darker registers of espresso, clove, and tobacco leaf. Cocoa and dried herbs linger beneath the fruit, lending a brooding complexity.

Taste: Full-bodied on entry, the palate delivers dense layers of cassis and blackberry supported by earth and graphite at mid-palate. Sweet tobacco, cedar, and menthol emerge as the wine opens, while fine-grained tannins provide structural precision without harshness. A thread of licorice ties the mid-palate to the peak, where the fruit reaches its most concentrated expression.

Finish: Long and persistent, with lingering notes of bark, dark chocolate, and graphite that slowly recede into a mineral-edged close. The tannins remain polished through the final moments, leaving a savory impression that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Au Sommet 2014

This wine rewards patient drinking — decant for at least 45 minutes to an hour to allow the aromatics to fully unfold, then serve at cellar temperature (60–65°F). At a decade of age, the 2014 is entering a rewarding drinking window where primary fruit and secondary complexity coexist beautifully, making it ideal for savoring on its own or alongside food.

Best For

• Opening for a milestone dinner celebrating a special vintage year
• Gifting a serious Napa Valley collector seeking mountain Cabernet
• Pairing with a prime dry-aged steak or lamb rack dinner
• Adding a high-scoring Atlas Peak bottling to a cellar collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Au Sommet 2014 taste like? Au Sommet 2014 is a full-bodied, richly concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon dominated by cassis, espresso, and graphite, with nuanced layers of tobacco, cedar, menthol, and licorice woven through fine-grained tannins.

How does Au Sommet 2014 compare to Shafer Hillside Select? Both are mountain-grown Napa Cabernets prized for structure and depth, though Au Sommet sources from a notably higher elevation at 2,100 feet on Atlas Peak versus Shafer's Stags Leap District hillside vineyards. Au Sommet tends toward a more austere, mineral-driven profile, while Hillside Select is often described as more opulent and layered with dark fruit.

Is Au Sommet 2014 good for cellaring? Yes — the 2014 vintage's firm tannic structure and concentrated fruit suggest continued development, and it is currently in a rewarding drinking window that should extend for several more years with proper storage.

Where is Au Sommet made? Au Sommet is produced from vineyards on a 45-acre estate atop Atlas Peak in the western Vaca Mountain range of Napa Valley, California, at approximately 2,100 feet above sea level — one of the highest vineyard sites in the appellation.

What foods pair well with Au Sommet 2014? Dry-aged ribeye steak complements the wine's tannic grip and dark fruit. Braised short ribs echo its earthy depth and tobacco notes. Roasted lamb with herbs mirrors the cedar and dried herb character. Hard aged cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda match the wine's intensity. Dark chocolate desserts with a touch of espresso highlight the finish.

What sizes does Au Sommet 2014 come in? Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Au Sommet 2014 worth the price? Au Sommet positions as a premium to ultra-premium Napa Cabernet, and its 95-point score from Antonio Galloni and 94 points from James Suckling place it in strong critical company alongside wines that often command significantly higher prices — particularly cult-status Atlas Peak and mountain Cabernets.

Why Au Sommet 2014?

Vineyard elevation is one of the hardest attributes to replicate in winemaking, and Au Sommet's 2,100-foot perch on Atlas Peak gives this wine a mineral intensity and tannic architecture that set it apart from valley-floor Napa Cabernets. The 2014 vintage — widely regarded as one of the strongest recent years in Napa — allowed these mountain grapes to reach exceptional concentration. With 95 points from Antonio Galloni, 94 from James Suckling, and 93 from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, the critical consensus confirms what the glass delivers: a serious, site-driven Cabernet that competes with Napa's most celebrated bottlings at its price tier. A decade on from harvest, this wine is drinking beautifully now while retaining the structure for further development.