Winemaker Notes
Deep ruby color almost all the way to the rim. Initial aromas of cocoa, butterscotch, dark berry and evergreen. In pre-release tasting, tannins still had a firm grip on this wine, but with air, aromas soften and deepen, and more fruit and spice emerges. Decanting highly recommended. Mouthfeel is full, tannins fine-textured, but firm, giving the wine a softly chalky texture that will marry happily with steaks seasoned with rosemary and porcini, rack of lamb, or a savory, rib-sticking, polenta and short ribs.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This deeply colored, extremely ripe and concentrated wine from a cooler part of Napa Valley is powerful but smooth, as a creamy texture carries blueberries, cocoa and anise flavors wrapped in significant fine-grained tannins. The flavors show great depth on the palate and good length on the finish. best from 2026–2036. Cellar Selection.
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James Suckling
Aromas of red and black currants, gravel and plums. Medium-to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Nice depth and intensity, without being overdone. Rather soft and subtle in its approach. Bright fruit and fresh herbs. Nicely done.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
After 21 months in 90% new French oak (and a bit of time in bottle), Hendry's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon—a blend of several blocks and clones from the estate vineyard—remains impressively dark in the glass. Marked by subtle shadings of tobacco leaf and cedar, with pronounced notes of black cherries and cassis, it's a nicely balanced, reasonably priced offering. Medium to full-bodied, smooth and gently tannic, it finishes silky, with hints of bay leaf and sage.
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.