Winemaker Notes
Holding true to its reverent style as a rich and supple, Right-Bank influenced blend, 2018 Caravan entices with decadent flavors of plum, fig jam, blackberry compote, and chocolate ganache on a silky, sleek frame. Notes of spiced chai, dried currants, and cinnamon add intrigue, harmonizing with the wine’s core profile of Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright, energetic, and exceptionally round and concentrated – this is a remarkable wine from a textbook growing season.
Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, & 8% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec into a rich, ripe and concentrated whole, this wine is sanguine in red berry and coffee bean. Soft, integrated and luxurious, it is meant to be enjoyed and approachable in its youth, finishing in leather and dried herb.
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Wine Spectator
A polished, fan-friendly style, with a mocha overlay atop warmed plum and black currant compote flavors. A late echo of cedar adds some cut on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Drink now through 2025.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.