Winemaker Notes
The nose of this wine is layered and multi-faceted, exploding with savory aromas of cedar, coffee, bay laurel, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine/oak forest, chaparral, and sage, all lifted by a captivating floral perfume redolent of iris and violets. Blue fruit aromas of blackberries and blueberries linger in the background, gradually evolving into notes of loam and clay. In the mouth, the wine shows its incredible energy and vibrancy, power and density. The flavors mirror the aromas of mouthwatering savory notes reverberating with fresh acidity. The wine and the tannins are dense, yet the tannins are super fine grained and resolve effortlessly in the mouth.
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is just as magnificent as it was last year. Dark, sensual and enveloping, the 2018 possesses off the charts intensity and fabulous balance. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and licorice all build over time, but it is the wine's mind-blowing intensity and pedigree that are once again so alluring. The 2018 is quite simply regal. Best after 2026.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from Vine Hill Ranch and Sleeping Lady vineyards, the Cabernet Franc came from Diamond Mountain and the Petit Verdot is from the old Abreu Thorevilos vineyard (now called Ecotone). Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with classic cassis, warm plums and boysenberries scents plus nuances of violets, lavender, pencil lead and menthol with hints of crushed rock and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness with super intense black fruit and earthy layers, finishing long and mineral laced.
Rating: 98+ -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beauty and comes from a mix of Vine Hill Ranch, Ecotone, MBar, and Sleeping Lady vineyards. Ripe blackcurrants, cassis, and mulled cherry fruits as well as subtle dark chocolate, graphite, violets, and tobacco define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, and building tannins that carry the finish. It shows the purity and freshness of the vintage yet brings some serious oomph as well. Rating: 97+
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Wine Spectator
A lush and inviting style, with gorgeous, velvety waves of cassis, steeped plum and warmed blackberry preserves rolling along, underscored with black licorice and roasted vanilla throughout. The finish is seriously deep and long, with a subtle tug of warm loam lingering with the fruit. Hard to lay off now for its fruit, but this has loads in reserve for the cellar. Drink now through 2040.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.