Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is a 750ml, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yountville appellation of Napa Valley, crafted by acclaimed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. It earned a 92-point score on Wine-Searcher and stands out for its unfiltered bottling and non-interventionist winemaking philosophy that prioritizes site expression over technological manipulation.

Quick Facts: Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Origin: Yountville, Napa Valley  |  Vintage: 2014  |  Winemaker: Thomas Rivers Brown  |  Aging: 22 Months in French Oak (70% New)

Production & Heritage

Casa Piena sources fruit from the Yountville valley floor, where ancient marine sediment and gravelly silt loams provide the deep drainage that Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in. The 2014 vintage draws from Cabernet clones 337, 341, and 7, each contributing distinct structural and aromatic elements. After fermentation, the wine aged for 22 months in French oak barrels — 70% of which were new — and was bottled unfiltered, preserving the full textural complexity of the fruit. Thomas Rivers Brown, whose portfolio includes some of Napa's most sought-after wines, applies a deliberately hands-off approach here, avoiding heavy-handed techniques that he believes contribute to uniformity across wines.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe blackberries and cassis lead into deeper layers of dark plum, cedar, and graphite. A subtle thread of leather and lavender adds aromatic lift as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is plush and round, delivering concentrated dark fruit — plum skin, cassis, and crushed dark cherry — across a full-bodied frame. Mid-palate, fine-grained tannins emerge alongside notes of tobacco, baking spice, and cinnamon. The 2014 runs slightly darker and creamier than the preceding vintage, with purplish stone fruit and rhubarb adding dimension.

Finish: Long and polished, with lingering mocha and a gentle grip from well-integrated tannins. Violets and a trace of pine surface as the wine recedes, maintaining elegance through the final moments.

How to Drink Casa Piena 2014

This Cabernet is best served at cellar temperature (60–65°F) in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes will open up the aromatic complexity and soften the tannin structure. Given its concentration and unfiltered character, this is a wine built for the table, not for cocktails — pair it with food or drink it on its own terms.

Best For

• Building a vertical collection of Yountville Cabernet Sauvignons
• Gifting to a Napa Valley wine enthusiast or collector
• Pairing with a special-occasion steak dinner
• Exploring the winemaking style of Thomas Rivers Brown

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Casa Piena 2014 taste like? It delivers concentrated dark fruit — blackberry, cassis, and plum — supported by fine-grained tannins and accents of tobacco, baking spice, and mocha. The texture is full-bodied and plush, with a long, polished finish.

How does Casa Piena compare to other Yountville Cabernets? Casa Piena shares the hallmark Yountville profile of velvety tannins and elegant fruit, but its unfiltered bottling and Thomas Rivers Brown's non-interventionist approach give it a more textural, site-driven character than many peers from the appellation.

Is Casa Piena 2014 good for cellaring? Yes — the 2014 vintage's concentrated fruit, structured tannins, and 22 months of new French oak aging suggest it has significant aging potential, though it is already drinking well with decanting.

Where is Casa Piena made? Casa Piena is produced from vineyards on the Yountville valley floor in Napa Valley, California, where deep alluvial soils of ancient marine sediment and gravelly silt loam define the terroir.

What foods pair well with Casa Piena 2014? Grilled prime rib or ribeye steak complements its dark fruit and tannin weight. Braised short ribs echo its richness and spice notes. Aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda match its complexity. Roasted lamb with herbs bridges the wine's cedar and savory undertones. Dark chocolate desserts mirror its mocha finish.

What sizes does Casa Piena 2014 come in? Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Casa Piena 2014 worth the price? Casa Piena positions as a premium Napa Valley Cabernet, and its 92-point Wine-Searcher score, use of top Cabernet clones, and a winemaker of Thomas Rivers Brown's caliber place it competitively among serious Yountville bottlings in its tier.

Why Casa Piena 2014?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of Napa Cabernet is the combination of site specificity and restrained winemaking. Thomas Rivers Brown has built his reputation by letting vineyards speak without technological interference — and the Yountville valley floor, with its ancient marine soils, has something distinct to say. The decision to bottle unfiltered preserves textural nuances that many producers sacrifice for visual clarity. At 92 points on Wine-Searcher, the 2014 vintage delivers the darker, creamier profile that defined this warm growing year in Napa, making it a compelling snapshot of place and season.