An iconic Napa Valley winery with a Legacy of crafting world-class Cabernet Sauvignon since 1933. Pioneering founder Louis M. Martini played an integral role in establishing Napa Valley as one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions. Today, the winery continues this winemaking tradition with a range of celebrated Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
One of the original five Napa Valley wineries founded after prohibition. Louis M. Martini is located on historic Highway 29 since 1933, a winery in the heart of California’s best Cabernet. When he first settled in Napa Valley, Louis M. Martini sought to source from the most coveted vineyards in the region. With the 1938 purchase of the Goldstein Ranch in the Mayacamas Mountains, he embarked on a new chapter in advanced viticulture and vineyard-driven winemaking. The vineyard, renamed Monte Rosso for its red volcanic soils, has since become the emblematic source of some of our most sought-after releases.
Today, Louis M. Martini continues to source the best grapes possible from Napa Valley and beyond. With 80 years of winemaking experience, Louis M. Martini Cabernets have received over 125, 90+ point scores over the past two decades. Today, Winemaker Michael Eddy continues this legacy with new award-winning Cabernets every year.
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
The Louis M. Martini 2016 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the best of the warm, narrow Dry Creek Valley and the hot yet wind cooled Alexander Valley. Together, these unique features create a balanced Cabernet Sauvignon with concentrated notes of dark fruit, black tea and cocoa. The full bodied mouthfeel leads to a supple and persistent finish.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah , Petit Verdot, Merlot
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Our 2018 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon showcases ripe note of blackberry, blueberry and red plum. Accompanying with hints of cocoa and oak. They are perfect pair with strong and firm cheese such as asiago, Cheddar, Smoked Gouda and even pungent cheese like blue cheese and Gorgonzola. They can also be paired with Steak, Lamb and Venison.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"Dark plums, black cherries, grilled herbs and smoke on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, sleek tannins. Supple and juicy with fresh acidity. Savory, flavorful finish. Drink or hold." - 92 points, James Suckling
Louis M. Martini Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Our 2017 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a boisterous wine with an assertive profile, offering ripe notes of black currant, plum, crushed fennel and cedar. Rich and rustic, this Cabernet features distinct brambly undertones and finishes memorably with structured, lingering tannins.
Grapes were picked early in the morning to preserve maximum flavor en route to the winery. All lots were aged and evaluated separately, allowing us to craft a harmonious wine before marrying the final blend in barrel to finish aging. In total, the wine spent 17 months in a combination of French and American oak (29% new).
Varietal: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah
"A firm, juicy red with blackberries, chocolate and light tobacco. Some vanilla. Medium to full body. Round tannins. Fruity and fresh. Drink now." - James Suckling, 92 points
Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Our 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a layered wine with notes of black cherry, blackberry and plum are complemented by hits of toasted oak, dried currant and baking spice. Fine grained tannins and ample brightness on the palate give way to a polished mouthfeel and exceptionally long finish.
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully destemmed and transferred to upright tanks for a two-day cold soak. To build its round, elegant mouthfeel, the wine saw 15 to 20 days of maceration time and was pumped over two to three times daily. Each lot was aged and meticulously evaluated separately, with the final blend taking place in May 2019. In total, the wine aged for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (40% new).
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"A slightly high-toned red with walnut, berry, chocolate and spice on the nose and palate. Medium-to full-bodied with chewy tannins and a rich finish. A little firmer and tighter than in the past, which equates to a more serious red. A touch of petit sirah in this. Drink or hold." - 93 points, James Suckling
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2014
Our Gnarly Vine Zinfandel is a big, full-bodied wine with rich blackberry and pepper aromas that lead to a sweep of dark fruit flavors, including blackberry reduction, plum and black currant. The intense fruit blends with layers of spice notes ranging from fresh peppercorns to clove and baking spices. The vibrant and robust wine is balanced by velvety tannins and the spice and minerality characteristic of Monte Rosso’s iron-rich volcanic soils. The extraordinarily long, luxurious finish includes hints of vanilla, pepper and molasses.
Varietal: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah
"Fully ripe, extracted fruit dominates in this robust, heady wine, a mixture of red berry jam and vanilla that takes on a perceptible sweetness on the palate. From the mighty mountain vineyard, it also shows dustings of dried herb and brush, an herbal undertone that balances its overall intensity. " - 90 points, Wine Enthusiast
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2015
Our 2015 Gnarly Vine Zinfandel is a big, full bodied wine with rich blackberry and pepper aromas that lead to a sweep of dark fruit flavors, including blackberry reduction, plum and black currant. The intense fruit blends with layers of spice notes ranging from fresh peppercorns to clove and baking spices. The vibrant and robust wine is balanced by velvety tannins and the spice and minerality characteristic of Monte Rosso’s iron rich volcanic soils. The extraordinarily long, luxurious finish includes hints of vanilla, pepper and molasses.
Varietal: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah
"Zesty and supple, with easygoing plum, orange zest and sweet anise flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 1,250 cases made." - 90 points, Wine Spectator
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2016
Our Gnarly Vine Zinfandel is crafted entirely from vines planted in 1893. Vibrant, juicy red raspberry and black cherry unfurl on the palate, accented by the historic vineyard’s signature notes of earth and spice. The 2016 vintage, boasting stunning concentration and dazzling acidity, is gorgeous now and will age beautifully for another six to seven years.
Our Gnarly Vine Zinfandel grapes were picked and sorted by hand. They were then gravity fed into small, open top tanks for a three-day cold soak before primary fermentation. The wine was aged in a combination of French oak barrels (48% new) and American oak barrels (19% new) for a total of 15 months.
Varietal: 100% Zinfandel
"Full-bodied, dense and layered with amazing fruit. Chocolate, too. Heady and wild. From ancient vines planted in the late 1800s. I love this for its history and reality. Great wine. Drink now." - 94 points, James Suckling
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Our Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon was handcrafted from grapes 100 percent from the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. This impressive, fullbodied red wine has great depth and a surprisingly soft mouthfeel for such concentrated fruit. The wine swirls with aromas that include black cherry, earth and the classic Monte Rosso spice. On the palate, it offers red and dark fruit flavors including raspberry and blackberry, plus black fig and hints of dusty chocolate and espresso. Aging in French and American Oak created assertive-but-smooth tannins that melt seamlessly into a lingering, elegant finish filled with flavors of anise, toasted oak and vanilla.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"This bold, flavorful wine offers well-integrated tones of red currant, dried cherry, dusty leather and clove. Savory and profound in elongated tannins, it holds its powerful ripeness and structure with pride, showing the stuffing to age well." - Wine Enthusiast, 93 points
"Well-crafted, offering a complex mix of rich berry and cherry fruit, with scents of dried herb and licorice that are supple and refined, gliding along on the palate to a happy finish. Drink now through 2028. 1,750 cases made." - 92 points, James Laube, Senior Editor at Wine Spectator
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Our Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon was handcrafted from grapes 100 percent from the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. This impressive, fullbodied red wine has great depth and a surprisingly soft mouthfeel for such concentrated fruit. The wine swirls with aromas that include black cherry, earth and the classic Monte Rosso spice. On the palate, it offers red and dark fruit flavors including raspberry and blackberry, plus black fig and hints of dusty chocolate and espresso. Aging in French and American Oak created assertive-but-smooth tannins that melt seaMLessly into a lingering, elegant finish filled with flavors of anise, toasted oak and vanilla.
Varietal : 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"High-toned and rich cabernet with lots of dark-berry, chocolate and vanilla character. Iron, too. Full-bodied, dense and layered. A little old-school, but lots of richness at the end." - 93 points, James Suckling
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2016
Lot No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon is our most carefully crafted wine, showcasing top blocks from esteemed Napa Valley vineyards and executed with the highest attention to detail at every step of the winemaking process. The 2016 vintage pulses with complexity –layers of black raspberry and macerated black cherry join with blueberry and juicy black currant on a wave of dark fruit tones. The plush, full-bodied mouthfeel reveals hints of cedar, cloves and coffee on a red carpet of velvety tannins.
"A balanced and polished red with plums, blue fruit and hints of vanilla. Full-bodied yet refined and focused. Finesse. Savory and juicy. Umami. Shows wonderful potential." - 95 points, James Suckling
"This red has a gush of cassis, creamed plum and melted red licorice notes, with hints of graphite giving it form, while cocoa and tobacco accents check in on the gutsy finish. A frankly rich wine that should gain a bit more nuance in the cellar. Drink now through 2035. 1,308 cases made." - 94 points, Wine Spectator
" This is a powerhouse wine, surprisingly soft and supple on the palate, with firm, integrated tannins and hearty oak. Cedar, pencil shavings and sweet tobacco provide savory complexity on the midpalate, accenting a core of concentrated red currant and plum. The finish is a mix of black pepper and dark chocolate." - 94 points, Wine Enthusiast
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2017
Lot No. 1 is something of a mosaic of iconic appellations and vineyards an assemblage of Napa Valley’s best mountain, benchland and valley floor fruit. The 2017 vintage is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak, Howell Mountain, Stags Leap, Mount Veeder and other stellar sites throughout Napa Valley AVA. From a growing perspective in 2017, ample winter rains fueled vine growth early in the season followed by steady warmth in the summer and fall, leading to a slightly early harvest with ripe, fruit driven intensity.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"A soft, juicy red with licorice and aniseed undertones to the blueberries and sage. Candy. Medium to full body with agility and elegance. Drinkable now, but better in 2022." - 95 points, James Suckling
"A rich, lush style, with creamed plum, blueberry and warmed blackberry compote flavors gliding along, laced with cocoa and warm earth notes. A black licorice note drapes over the fruit on the finish, and there's a violet note hanging in the background. Large-scaled and well-defined. Best from 2022 through 2035. 1,272 cases made." - 94 points, Wine Spectator
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2018
Winemaker Notes
Our concept of small-lot winemaking dates back to 1948 when Louis M. Martini began ranking his most exceptional Cabernet lots to use for a special selection blend. We honor this attention to detail with every vintage we make, fermenting Lot No. 1 in small open-top tanks, which allow for a high level of precision when extracting color and flavor. All lots were alternately punched down and pumped over up to four times daily to build the desired foundation for the wine’s mouthfeel. Our barrel program for Lot No. 1 is also unique, with the primary component being 36-month air dried French oak. This longer drying time encourages rich tannin structure throughout the duration of the wine’s 19 months in barrel (83% new).
Nose: The 2018 Lot No. 1 vintage showcases enticing aromas of wild blackberries, cocoa and toasted oak supported by notes of brown spice and humidor.
Palate: The rich, plush palate boasts flavors of shaved chocolate and reduced blackberry compote with hints of cinnamon. The long finish reveals classic oak character and plush tannins.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"This has a frankly toasty note overlaying rich cassis, plum and boysenberry compote flavors, while licorice root, loam and roasted mesquite notes fill in on the finish. Not shy in the muscular approach. For fans of the style. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 2,149 cases made." - 94 points, James Molesworth, Senior Editor and Special Projects Director at Wine Spectator
"This is a firm and structured red with blackberry, conifer and chocolate character. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and poised. Lots of dark fruit at the end and chewy tannins. 61% mountain fruit and 39% valley-floor. Long finish. Dry at the end. A little hot from the high alcohol. Retro-styled. Try in 2023." - 91 points, James Suckling