Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon produced from Howell Mountain fruit, bottled at 14.9% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and received 93 points and a "Supreme" 5-Star rating from BevX, which declared it capable of going "toe-to-toe with the best of them."

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.9%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2009  |  Winery: Cornerstone Cellars

Production & Heritage

Cornerstone Cellars was founded by Dr. Michael Dragutsky, whose introduction to premium Napa winemaking came during a pivotal 1991 harvest visit with Randy Dunn, widely regarded as the wine master of Howell Mountain. Since then, Cornerstone has maintained long-term vineyard contracts on Howell Mountain, sourcing fruit from sites at 1,700 to 2,000 feet elevation where red mountain soils stress vines into producing intensely concentrated berries. The 2009 vintage was fermented in small lots and aged 20 to 22 months in French oak barrels, with up to 90% new wood, building structure and complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with explosive, layered aromatics — ripe blackberry, black cherry, and cassis dominate, followed by undercurrents of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and leather. A subtle mineral quality and well-integrated sweet oak provide depth beneath the dark fruit.

Taste: The entry is dense and full-bodied, delivering concentrated black cherry, cassis, and licorice alongside a creamy coffee quality drawn from the French oak aging. At mid-palate, the wine reveals its mountain-fruit muscularity — structured and sleek rather than heavy, with no excess weight. Subtle earthy notes emerge and expand as the wine opens.

Finish: The finish is long and slightly drying, with firm but well-integrated tannins rippling beneath the dark fruit. Lingering impressions of cassis, dark cherry, and faint oak spice persist well after the last sip.

How to Drink Cornerstone Cabernet

This wine is best served at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass that allows its complex aromatics to fully develop. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes will soften the tannins and reveal additional layers of fruit and spice. Given the richness and structure of this Cabernet, cocktail applications are not recommended — this is a wine built for undivided attention.

Best For

• Cellaring for special milestone occasions — the structured tannins and Howell Mountain concentration reward patience
• Pairing with a high-end steak dinner or holiday prime rib
• Gifting a serious Napa Valley Cabernet collector
• Serving as the centerpiece pour at a blind tasting of mountain-grown Cabernets

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cornerstone Cabernet 2009 taste like? It delivers concentrated black cherry, cassis, and licorice flavors supported by creamy French oak coffee notes and firm mountain tannins. The profile is full-bodied and sleek, with a long, slightly drying finish and subtle earthy undertones.

How does Cornerstone Cabernet compare to Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet? Both wines draw from Howell Mountain fruit and share the concentrated, structured character that high-elevation Napa vineyards produce. Cornerstone tends toward a slightly more approachable style with generous new French oak influence, while Dunn is historically known for austere, long-aging wines that require extended cellaring to open up.

Is Cornerstone Cabernet 2009 good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — it was built for contemplative drinking, with layered aromatics and enough tannic structure to evolve in the glass over a full evening. Decanting is recommended to let the wine reach its full expression.

Where is Cornerstone Cabernet made? Cornerstone Cellars is based in Napa Valley, California, and sources its Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from contracted Howell Mountain vineyards situated at approximately 1,700 to 2,000 feet elevation in volcanic red mountain soils.

What foods pair well with Cornerstone Cabernet 2009? Grilled bone-in ribeye works exceptionally well, as the charred fat mirrors the wine's smoky oak. Braised short ribs complement the cassis and earthy notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère highlight the wine's tannic backbone. Roasted lamb with rosemary echoes the herbal spice, and dark chocolate with 70% cacao bridges the coffee and blackberry flavors on the finish.

What sizes does Cornerstone Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Cornerstone Cabernet 2009 worth the price? Cornerstone positions as a premium Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and its Howell Mountain sourcing, small-lot production, and extended new French oak aging place it among serious mountain Cabs. The Gold Medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and BevX's 93-point "Supreme" rating reinforce that it delivers strong value within its tier.

Why Cornerstone Cabernet 2009?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of Napa Cabernet is its direct lineage to Howell Mountain, one of the valley's most respected appellations for age-worthy reds. The fruit comes from the same high-elevation vineyard sites Cornerstone has contracted since the early 1990s, giving the wine a consistency of terroir expression that many newer producers cannot match. BevX's 93-point "Supreme" rating and the San Francisco Chronicle Gold Medal confirm that the 2009 vintage landed among the top examples of the category. For anyone seeking a structured, mountain-grown Napa Cabernet with over a decade of bottle age behind it, this is a compelling and increasingly rare bottle to find.