Winemaker Notes
Deep purple-black in color with vibrant, expressive aromas of black currant, crushed blueberry and blackberry. The wine is full bodied, with a wonderful richness and depth on the palate and firm, ripe tannins. The long, savory flavors provide generosity to the persistent finish.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Sweet-berry, bark and forest-floor aromas. It’s medium-to full-bodied with notes of blackberry, violet, cedar and spice. The palate is savory and juicy with round tannins. The finish is elegant, clean and showing length. Needs three to four years to come together.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Select sails out of the glass with vibrant scents of freshly crushed blueberries, black raspberries and ripe blackcurrants with hints of dried mint, violets, pencil lead and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shimmers with gorgeous energy, featuring and a lively backbone cutting through the tightly wound black fruit layers and grainy tannins, finishing with a minty lift.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the two reds, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Select checks in as 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Revealing a deep ruby/purple color as well as a classic Cabernet nose of red and black currants, green tobacco, cedarwood, and Asian spices, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. This is a complex, satisfying, impeccably made Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.
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Wine Spectator
Dark and winey but with a solid racy edge, as graphite and iron notes guide the core of black currant and black cherry preserves along. Shows a subtle alder hint that curls around the finish, as the fruit shows a nice finishing kick.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Just northeast of Napa city, Atlas Peak boasts some of Napa Valley’s highest elevation vineyards. Here the intense sunlight coupled with cool, nighttime temperatures produce grapes that are perfectly ripe, balanced and concentrated. The appellation is rich in volcanic soils and excels in the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.