Blended from several subregions, including a bit of Pritchard Hill fruit and 9% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (500 cases made) features some tarry, cedary notes overlaid on dark, plummy fruit. Full-boded, rich, velvety and long.
I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 19 months in 80% new French oak. Yes, there’s some mocha and caramel overtones but also concentrated, dark-berry notes suggestive of black cherries and cassis. It’s a big, full-bodied wine that’s densely concentrated yet also round and expansive on the palate, finishing long and velvety.
Incredibly fresh, with a savory aromatic lift, packed with black and red fruits, black olive and spearmint, which follows through on the palate. Ample crushed stone minerality and grippy acidity are balanced by super-fine tannins. Plenty of drive, tension and energy to cellar several 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.
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.
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.