Cardinale
For all our readers we will now be bringing you regular full profiles from the 11th & and upcoming 12th editions of Wine behind the label with our ratings and price guides. This is one of the winery profiles for December included in the just published 11th digital edition 2020, which should give a small idea of what to look for with the guide, which can be purchased itself or included (virtually free) as part of an annual membership package. Here David profiles one of the Jackson Family Wines producers.
Cardinale (Oakville)
This very pricey red is one of the jewels in the crown of the Jackson Family Wines collection of super-premium wineries. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot sourced from prime vineyards both benchland as well as mountain plots on Mount Veeder, Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain and Howell Mountain.
The Cardinale Red
A massively powerful and concentrated red with copious quantities of super-ripe cassis and hints of cedar underpinned by high-toast oak, in the best vintages the wine convincingly earns ★★★★★. Yet you do feel that just a hint more refinement would add that final dimension. (DM)
The wines
Recommended Reds:
Cardinale Proprietary Red Napa Valley ★★★★★ £H
Ownership and Contact
Jackson Family Wines
Address: 7600 St Helena Highway, Oakville, CA 94562
Tel: 707 948-2643
Web: www.cardinale.com
Email: info@cardinale.com
To find out more read our USA Overview here and you can check out our background guide to the Napa Valley and Carneros here
Our Introduction, Awards and How to use the guide will also help – link
To go straight to purchase a copy or any of our other items then visit the shop
See also Kathleen Burk’s review of both Cardinale and Verité here