"From the relatively cool climes of Eden Valley, this Cab leads with ripe red and black fruits, oak and earthy spices. The palate is powerful but not rich, gripped vice-like by muscular, slightly astringent tannins and crunchy red-berry fruit. The oak is out in full force here but this currently austere wine should continue to age until at least 2025. - CHRISTINA PICKARD"
- Wine Enthusiast (February 2020), 89 pts
"Deep ruby. Ripe cherry, cassis, cured tobacco, pungent flowers and vanilla on the highly perfumed nose, along with a smoky topnote. Fleshy, dark berry and fruitcake flavors are supported by a spine of juicy acidity and become spicier with aeration. Conveys an appealing blend of depth and vivacity and finishes sweet and persistent, with harmonious tannins and lingering cherry and vanilla notes. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2021), 92 pts
"The 2015 William Randell Cabernet Sauvignon is a single-vineyard, Eden Valley bottling with plenty of intensity and varietal character. Mint and cassis notes dominate, but there's a healthy portion of new French oak that shows as well, adding lovely notes of baking spices and vanilla. Full-bodied and velvety in texture, it still shows enough delineation and length to please purists. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #238, August 31st 2018), 93 pts
"A dark ruby red in the glass, the wine has a lovely nose of dark fruit and minty hints. On the palate, it possesses robust dark fruit, with good tannins, and finishes with great balance."
- Beverage Dynamics (August 2019), 95 pts
GOLD MEDAL
- International Wine & Spirits Competition 2017
"While riper and less elegant as the 2017, this vintage is nevertheless appealing. Ripe, almost candied currant and blueberry fruit open the nose, backed by licorice root, flowers on their stalks and subtle peppery nuances. The palate is powerful yet poised, and less syrupy than the nose suggests thanks to a lift of acidity. Austere and textured like pencil lead, the tannins are drying, juxtaposing the crunchy red fruit. There's a touch of astringency on the finish. - CHRISTINA PICKARD"
- Wine Enthusiast (December 2020), 90 pts
"I tasted the 2016 William Randell Cabernet Sauvignon as a final blend, one month before bottling. Mint and cassis mark the nose, followed by a full-bodied, ripe wine that seemed creamy-textured and soft. For a Cabernet Sauvignon, it's awfully plush and easy to drink. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #238, August 31st 2018), 90-93 pts
