Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 | Opulent, Rich & Full-on Seductive 96 Point Cult Cab

One quick scan of the 2015 Napa Cabernets that earned 95 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate reveals a slew of famous names.  Davis Estates, Frank Family “Patriarch,” Kata, and Morlet, coming in at $255, $225, $195, and $275 respectively. One of the only under-$100 wines standing tall among those giants is the Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon 2015.  A full-bodied, blue- and black-fruit-driven, graphite-infused, sumptuous gem from renowned winemaker Mark Herold.

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95WA | Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 displays a deep garnet-purple color. While profoundly scented of black cherries, warm blackberries, black plums, and licorice.  In addition, with touches of cedar chest, Indian spices, and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, rich, opulent and full-on seductive. Finally, with its plush tannins, layered ripe fruits and exotic spices, it finishes long and perfumed.

Winemaker Mark Herold

The man best known for creating the infinitely-lauded red wine Merus, Mark Herold, is the driving force behind Kobalt, which was born in Herold’s garage, sharing space with his flagship wine. In Napa’s 97-point 2015 vintage, Herold sourced enough stellar fruit from his go-to vineyard in Coombsville to eke out 20-barrels of Kobalt, which Jeb Dunnuck rated 96 points, and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave a 95, calling the 100% Cabernet “rich, opulent, and full-on seductive.”

Mark Herold, writes Robert Parker, “first came to my attention because of the brilliant wines he produced under the name Merus. The world caught notice too, falling for what Parker calls the “full-throttle, massively extracted, rich Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines” for which Herold has become known. So far, critics and consumers can’t seem to get enough of Herold’s juice: His 98-point Mastodon, offered exclusively in Magnum, sells for $800!

Kobalt Wines

But in that very garage, alongside Merus, Herold and his partner, Kevin Carriker brought forth Kobalt. Yet, it has been tiny-production from the start, consisting of just over 400 cases in the beginning. Now, more than a decade later, they put out just 500 cases. The wine impressed Robert Parker from the first vintage.  And little has changed. Not the lofty scores, not the stellar single vineyard source in Coombsville. And not the luxurious aging regimen in new Darnajou barrels. While opaque, With glass-staining purple with tons of dark fruit and complex spice.  Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is a top-level Napa Valley Cabernet made by a master.