2021 STONES No. 3

98+ PTS ~ Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 comes from a famous site in Oakville and, as with the other releases here, is all varietal aged 22 months in 95% new French oak. This majestic, full-bodied, powerful 2021 reveals a saturated purple color, a mammoth-sized bouquet of cassis, liquid rock-like minerality, violets, graphite, and iron, ripe, building tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a huge finish. Despite its overall size and concentration, it stays flawlessly balanced and has a seamless mouthfeel along with just perfectly integrated structure, alcohol, and fruit. This absolute classic 2021 will be best from 2028-2058.

2019 STONES No. 3

97 PTS ~ Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 comes from Tench Vineyard and is an inky hued, red, black, and bluefruited Cabernet with serious amounts of iron, marine-like salinity, and savory herb aromas and flavors. As with all these Fairchild releases, it’s full-bodied, has wonderful balance, and building structure. It’s a serious, powerful 2019 that will benefit from at least 4-5 years of bottle age. drink 2027-2047

98 PTS ~ Decanter

From the Tench vineyard in Oakville next to Screaming Eagle. Incredibly dense and concentrated with massive power, energy and drive. Deep dark berry fruit along with blue-toned and violet florals just leap from the glass. Every sip delivers more decadent dark fruit with precision and clarity of flavours, framed by intricate and sculpted tannins. Plenty of tension on a long finish tinged with a note of spearmint. Has real wow factor.

2018 STONES No. 3

99 PTS ~ Jeb Dunnuck

Lastly, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 comes from the oldest vines in the Tench Vineyard and was brought up in mostly new barrels. More unevolved notes of blueberries, raspberries, crushed violets, lead pencil, iron, and graphite give way to a huge, rich, full-bodied wine that has some obvious minerality, loads of floral nuances, polished tannins, and a great finish. Drink 2022-2055

2017 STONES No. 3

97 PTS ~ Jeb Dunnuck

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 comes from a world class site just beside Screaming Eagle and is all Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 22 months in new French oak. Stunning blackcurrants, iron, savory spices, and baking chocolate notes all give way to a complex, elegant, seamless red that has ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, flawless balance, and a great finish. It shows the tighter, more linear style of the vintage yet is just beautifully balanced, has notable purity of fruit, and is up with the top wines in the vintage.

2016 STONES No. 3

100 PTS ~ Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 is pure perfection in a glass and could not be any better. This full-bodied, remarkably pure, seamless Napa Cabernet
comes from the Oakville Tench Vineyard and reveals a saturated purple color as well as sensational notes of blueberries, currants, camphor, scorched earth, and hints of lavender and violets. Deep, layered, still tight and backward, yet with incredible purity and focus, It’s a monumental beauty.

Drink 2023 – 2048.

98 PTS ~ Robert Parker WA
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 is very deep purple-black in color with a totally decadent nose of crème de cassis, baked plums and blackberry pie with touches of licorice, chocolate mint, espresso and cloves plus wafts of truffles and smoked meats. Full- bodied, rich, concentrated and framed by wonderfully plush tannins, it has a very long, uplifting finish.

Drink 2024 – 2055.

2015 STONES No. 3

96 PTS ~ Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2015 Stones No. 3 from the Tench Vineyard in Oakville has an opaque garnet-purple color and is profoundly scented of crème de cassis, blackberry compote and dried mulberries with suggestions of dusty earth. Full-bodied and firmly constructed with generous black fruit, it finishes long and savory.

Drink 2017-2037.

2014 STONES No. 3

98 PTS ~ ROBERT PARKER JR

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 comes from the Oakville Tench Vineyard, which is in a high-rent district and near Screaming Eagle and Harbison sites. This is a pure red soil area, and the result is a gravelly, opaque purple wine with pure blueberry and crème de cassis notes intermixed with some loamy soil undertones, Christmas fruitcake and spice box, followed by a full-bodied, opulent wine with adequate acidity and sweet, well-integrated tannin.

Drink 2017-2036.