Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
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Winemaker Notes
At 27 years of age, the Hourglass Estate has officially entered adulthood. Knockout aromas of black cherry, blueberry, roast coffee, and forest floor are lifted by secondary aromas of bright cranberry, raspberry and garrigue. On the palate, savory notes of black olive, soy sauce and grilled bread frame a dense core of deep pomegranate and dark earth with hints of peat. Rich and densely textured throughout, the plush, creamy tannins provide lush mouthfeel on the long, beguiling finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes from the estate vineyard, which is a four-acre hillside site located on the edge of the Mayacamas Mountains. I loved it from barrel, and it doesn't disappoint from bottle, offering an already complex, nuanced style in its blue fruits, lavender, flowers, incense, blueberries, and cassis-laced aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, it has a layered, majestic texture, ripe tannins, and great, great finish, it's a top tier wine in the vintage. Drink bottles any time over the coming 20-25 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it delivers a powerful nose of blackcurrant pastilles, baked plums, boysenberries and black cherry compote with suggestions of menthol, Indian spices, cast-iron pan and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with ripe, rich black berry layers and an alluring, velvety texture, supported by just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. It is delicious right now, but give it 3-5-years in the cellar for that wow-factor.
Rating: 96+ -
James Suckling
Subtle aromas of blackcurrants, herbs and mint, as well as some wood undertones. A full-bodied cabernet sauvignon with a balanced, layered texture and elegant tannins. The finale is long and savory with a salivating finish.
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Hourglass wines represent a cutting-edge, modern Napa Valley winemaking style. Ned Smith bought the property in 1976 and his goal quickly shifted from fruit trees to his favorite wine, Zinfandel, with the lofty hope of supplying grapes to local wineries in exchange for finished wine. The land was eventually taken over by son Jeff Smith. In 1992, Jeff enlisted his family friend - and former rock band cohort - Bob Foley as winemaker for their new venture. Like so many aspiring guitarists, Bob had kept his day job over the years, making wine and garnering countless accolades and rock-star status for such labels as Robert Foley Vineyards, Switchback Ridge, Pride Mountain, School House and Paloma. Bob continues to make all the Hourglass wines and has the deep purple-stained hands to prove it. The calluses, however, are as much from guitar playing as his meticulous cellar work. Then, Hourglass's inaugural release came with the 1997 vintage, a seminal Napa vintage by many critics' standards.
With the christening of the winery at Blueline and its distinct single-varietal wines, Hourglass has entered an exciting new phase of its evolution. A brand synonymous with terroir-driven, modern Napa wines of the highest caliber, its goal is and will always remain the same: To capture the essence of two of Napa Valley's most expressive vineyard sites in bottled form, and to have the honor of sharing them with you and your families for decades to come.
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.