Focusing first on the cabernet fruit from four mineral-rich, volcanic soil sites nestled on cooler hillside slopes in the Alexander Valley, this vintage’s blend is uniquely crafted with delicate inclusions of merlot, malbec, and petit verdot.
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Opaque ruby purple in the glass, it has an incredible perfume loaded with floral nuances, its cassis and boysenberry fruit tempered by a mineral streak and accented by notes of dried thyme, fresh tobacco leaves, mint chocolate, coffee and bay leaves. The palate is stunning, powerful but silky and fresh, lushly fruited and nuanced and finishing very long. While this 2018 is approachable and utterly delicious now, it will reward cellaring and should be very long lived. RP 97