A cellar selection based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve reveals a dense purple hue as well as gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, violets, and sappy spring flowers. With full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and fabulous tannins, this rock star of a Cabernet will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20-30 years.
I loved the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District, which has classic mountain depth and richness paired with a great sense of class and balance. Full-bodied notes of red and black currants, dried tobacco, saddle leather, and spice all emerge from this concentrated, structured, yet flawlessly balanced beauty. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot and was aged 19 months in 70% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal fragrant notions of wild blueberries, ripe black cherries and fresh blackberries with hints of camphor, dark chocolate, cassis and black olives. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with densely laden black fruit layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long with a minty kick. 250 cases were made.
Coming from the Rueling Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast offers a more nuanced, complex style with pretty mulled red and black fruits, lots of pine and foresty notes, medium-bodied richness, flawless balance, and a great finish. It just begs to be drunk today yet should easily evolve for 7-8 years on its balance and nicely integrated structure.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Petit Verdot) is a barrel selection that sees a touch more élevage compared to the classic Cabernet Sauvignon release. It’s cut from the same cloth yet has more purity and elegance, with stunning notes of cassis, crushed rocks, chocolate, hot gravel, and licorice aromas and flavors. As with the classic Cabernet, it has serious muscle and depth.
The 2017 Chardonnay comes from a single vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, the Reuling vineyard, planted to Montrachet clone. Aged in 60% new French oak, it opens with vivacious notes of ripe apricots, warm grapefruit and lemon curd plus hints of honeyed toast, toasted almonds and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a pleasant creaminess to the texture and a great intensity of stone fruit and citrus flavors, finishing long and refreshing. 175 cases produced.
The 2017 Pinot Noir comes from a single vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, the Reuling vineyard, planted to Calera and a suitcase clone from Burgundy. Made with 20% whole cluster and aged in 50% new French oak, it has a pale to medium rubypurple color and leaps from the glass with exuberant notions of crushed redcurrants, fresh raspberries and kirsch with nuances of lavender, wild thyme, fragrant earth and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features amazing texture with very fine-grained skin tannins and a little provocative grip from the stems, structuring the vibrant red fruit layers beautifully, finishing long and earthy. 215 cases produced.
Incorporating 8% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is rich, full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins and a great finish, this undeniably delicious, balanced beauty is going to keep for 15 years or more.
One-hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 80% new French oak for 20 months, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is deep garnet-purple in color and opens with perfumed notes of red and black currant preserves, mulberries, kirsch and cigar box with nuances of black tea, roses, fragrant earth and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, it’s very polished on the palate, with firm, fine-grained tannins, wonderful freshness and a layered finish with some mineral nuances coming through. 120 cases produced.
Composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot aged for 20 months in 70% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain is deep garnet-purple colored with a simply beautiful nose of warm cassis, crushed black plums and blackberry compote with touches of tilled loam, cardamom, Indian spices and licorice with a waft of eucalyptus. Full, rich and concentrated, it has a rock-solid foundation of firm, ripe, rounded tannins and great vivacity, finishing long. 175 cases produced.