Kith & Kin is a secondary label from Round Pond, a premium winery situated in Rutherford. Rutherford is located right in the heart of Napa Valley and is home to some of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards in all of California.
Established over 40 years ago, the winery is committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly vineyard practices.
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Kith & Kin Cabernet Sauvignon Review
Kith & Kin, like the rest of Round Pond’s bottles, is produced by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. Thomas Rivers Brown, or TRB for short, is one of the hottest winemakers in the Napa Valley.
He was the youngest man to ever be given the honor of receiving a 100-point review from Robert Parker, one of the industry’s most respected reviewers.
Since that first 100-point bottle, TRB has racked up north of thirty perfect 100-pointers under his belt.
He has consulted for many of Napa Valley’s top wineries, including Schrader, Revana Family Vineyards, and Double Diamond, among many more.
Kith & Kin Cabernet Sauvignon
- Brand: Round Pond (Kith & Kin)
- Country: United States
- Region: Napa Valley
- Wine Type: Red Wine
- Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
- ABV: 14.8%
Appearance
A bright, vivid plum color with a rich red meniscus, the wine is striking in the glass. Unfortunately, it has dense legs, which are prone to falling as quickly as they form.
Smell
Ripe cherry, black plum, cedar, oaky spice, and brand-new leather fill the nostril on the first whiff of this wine.
Dried violets, cherry cola, and a hint of the inside of a cigar box round out the aroma and give the impression of classic Napa Valley juice. Soft, supple, and sensuous overall, this wine is almost as fun to smell as it is to drink.
Taste
Flavors of wild cherries, overripe blueberries, rich blackberry jam, and juicy plum fill the mouth on your first sip.
The fruit is framed with dusty earth, a classic telltale of Rutherford juice.
Rounding out the flavor profile are notes of graphite, wild herbs, and mocha, with just a dash of white pepper to keep things interesting.
The structure of this wine is remarkably approachable, despite such bold flavors.
The tannin is there, but it is fine and grainy without getting in the way of the fresh, easy-going taste of the wine. The acidity is soft, if not non-existent.
What Does Kith & Kin Cabernet Sauvignon Pair With?
This is a remarkably food-friendly wine, despite how much it has going on. It pairs well with everything from burgers, to pasta, to dried meats.
That said, I personally feel as though a classic wine calls for classic pairings. I strongly recommend trying this wine with dry-aged ribeye, sous vide potato fingerlings, and an asparagus and squash medley!
All that said, if you have a bit of a sweet tooth, this wine is especially friendly when paired with anything involving dark chocolate.
I would recommend a chocolate cheesecake topped with raspberry sauce if you want the flavors to really pop.
What Wines Are Similar to Kith & Kin Cabernet Sauvignon?
Personally, I recommend trying some of Thomas Rivers Brown’s other wines.
Caterwaul shares similar ease of drinking, Double Diamond scales up the structure a bit with a lot of the same dark fruit, and Jersey Boys ramps up the subtle blueberry notes present from a five to a ten and is perfect if that’s what you like about this bottle.
Other favorites of mine that fall into this style include Amici, Clos du Val, Duckhorn, and Meli Melo.
They are all a bit different but will all appeal to fans of this iron-fist in a velvet-glove style of power meets drinkability.
Final Thoughts
I can’t say that I’m surprised, but this is another knockout from one of Napa’s golden boys. If you are looking for Caymus or Quilt level of plushness, this isn’t for you.
If you want Jordan-level spice and intensity, it’s not for you. But if you’re looking for a best-of-both-worlds middle-ground bottle, then this is the perfect fit.