2022 Innuendo
Cabernet Sauvignon
innuendo ~ a subtle hint
Aromas of dried cherry, sweet clove, tobacco, and subtle oak lead to a richly focused palate and seamless structure. Smooth tannins and balanced freshness carry through a long, graceful finish – a Cabernet that is both complex and immediately enjoyable.
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Wine Specs
Vintage
2022
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Oakville
Harvest Date
Sept/Oct 2022
Aging
22 months in 66% New French Oak
Bottling Date
7/29/24
Alcohol %
15.5
Wine Profile
Vintage Notes
The 2022 grape harvest in Oakville, Napa Valley, was a season of contrasts, marked by both challenges and high-quality fruit. After a wet winter, the region faced a heatwave during the summer, which caused some vine stress and uneven ripening. However, Oakville’s diverse terroir helped many vineyards navigate these extremes, leading to a harvest that began earlier than usual in early September. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville’s signature varietal, showed concentrated flavors and firm tannins, while other Bordeaux varietals also benefited from the smaller berries and intense fruit expression. Despite the challenges, the ‘22 vintage promised wines with great depth and complexity, showcasing the resilience of Napa Valley’s growers.
Production Notes
207 Cases Produced
Winemaker Notes
"The ‘22 INNUENDO Cabernet offers a captivating bouquet that immediately draws you in with its intriguing aromatics. The nose is a delightful blend of dried cherries, aromatic Danish Cavendish tobacco, sweet clove, and a touch of French Oak vanillin. These layered scents create a warm, playful, and inviting profile, suggesting both depth and refinement.
On the palate, the wine delivers a strikingly ripe cherry entry, immediately capturing attention with its focused and rich fruit character. The mid-palate is beautifully structured, showcasing a seamless transition from the bold fruit to more subtle nuances, with an elegant balance of richness and freshness. The finish is where this wine truly shines—it tapers off gracefully, leaving a smooth, lingering impression of dark cherry and delicate oak nuances.
This Cabernet is well-rounded, offering a harmonious blend of fruit, spice, and oak, and it shows a refined elegance that promises to evolve beautifully with age. A fantastic expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that is both complex and effortlessly enjoyable.
Aged for 22 months in 66% new French Oak, 207 cases bottled, unfiltered and unfined. Cellared correctly enjoy now and over the next 15 years." ~ Kirk Venge
Other Notes
94 Points - Decanter Magazine - 2/2025: "Innuendo is the entry-level bottling, blending fruit from Game Farm and another well-draining, rocky site in Oakville, as well as Star Vineyard in Rutherford and Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak. Aged for 22 months in 80% new French oak, this wine offers rich aromatics of bright red berry and boysenberry fruit, lifted by sagebrush and wild herb nuances. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, with a refreshing thread of crushed stone minerality adding tension and energy. The tannins are gentle and refined, providing structure without overpowering the wine’s perfumed and elegant character. The long, balanced finish makes it an excellent companion to extended meals and lively conversation."
Drink 2025-2033
(Tasted by: Jonathan Cristaldi at Calistoga, California, 2 Feb 2025).
https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/usa/california/implicit-cellars-innuendo-napa-valley-california-2022-96547
