Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet is as it has always been a pure expression of Vine Hill Ranch. This bottling to be is a fantastic example of the old phrase ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’. This is so incredibly drinkable now but will age for years to come. The silky and seamless nature of this Cabernet hides the awesome depth and inherent structure that this has. The 2018 Vine Hill Ranch cabernet is a bit of an homage to the Cabernets of years past with its loamy/earthy profile but still has all the fruit and density that you could ever want.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
This site in Oakville has been firing on all cylinders recently, and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch (100% Cabernet From the rockiest section in the vineyard) is just another example of the incredible quality from the vineyard. Inky purple, its stunning bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencil shaving, tobacco, and gravelly earth notes give way to a full-bodied, structured wine that reminds me a great vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte with its incredible earthy minerality as well as finesse and elegance. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 20-30 years.
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James Suckling
Amazing aromas of blackcurrants, raspberries, blueberries, meat and black tea leaves. Medium to full body and compact, polished tannins. Creamy, velvety-textured palate that is long and persistent. Precise wine. Shows great potential for the future.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch comes from Block 7, which has 20-year-old vines and a gravelly soil type. It spent about three weeks on the skins during and after fermentation and was matured in small French oak barrels for 20 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with opulent scents of kirsch, black raspberries, black currant cordial and Black Forest cake with hints of dried mint, tilled soil and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the wine completely coats the mouth with red and black fruit preserves layers, supported by firm grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with a lively lift. 300 cases were made. Rating: 95+
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.