2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021s at Bryant are quite promising. Like many estates, Bryant saw very little rainfall, just 7 inches, as opposed to the more typical 25-30. Yields are down by a massive 40%. I tasted the 2021s from barrel, as the wines are being bottled on the later side. Winemaker KK Carothers certainly seems to have gotten the most out of the vintage. I also had a chance to taste the 2019s in finished form now that they have recovered from what was also a late bottling. Bryant fans will note the addition of a new Chardonnay. I am not always a fan of new non-core wines like this, but the Chardonnay is undeniably delicious. More than anything, though, I have to say Bettina Bryant has done a tremendous job in creating stability at Bryant, something that was such an Achilles' heel in the past. That she has done that while dealing with Don Bryant’s long-term illness and the loss of their St. Helena home in the 2020 wildfires is all the more remarkable.

These are two absolutely gorgeous 2019s from Bryant (the 2019 Bettina is still in barrel). The 2019s build on the 2018s in their nuance and energy. Bryant under the direction of Bettina Bryant and winemaker KK Carothers is a terrific example of the contemporary style of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. There is plenty of textural richness and intensity, but with greater vibrancy than in years past. It's a style that is so well suited to the estate vineyard and the David Abreu sites where Bryant purchases fruit. KK Carothers is one of the most talented and detail oriented winemakers of her generation.