94 Points - Wine Independent
93+ Points - Wine Advocate
93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
92 Points - James Suckling
This wine very approachable now, and has plenty of depth, structure, and complexity to lay down for another 5-8 years. Only a few hundred cases EVER MADE and we have just enough to share with you today. While it lasts!
Food pairings include hard cheeses, charcuterie, lamb sliders, risotto with wild mushrooms, pan-seared duck with cherry sauce, slow-roasted prime rib, chocolate truffle.
WINEMAKER
Since 1988 Heidi Peterson Barrett has had an impressive client list of ultra-premium wineries to her name, over 2 dozen in total. Past winemaking clients include Screaming Eagle (14 years, 1992 and 1997 vintages garnered another set of perfect 100’s from Parker. And a 6-liter bottle of the '92 Screaming Eagle set a world record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine $500,000 at the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction.)
Other projects include Dalla Valle (8 years), Jones Family (12 years), Grace Family (6 years), Vineyard 29 (6 years), David Arthur, Barbour Vineyards (15 years), Revana (10 years), Showket (12 years), Kenzo Estate (20 years), Paradigm (32 years), and Lamborn (25 years).
VINTAGE
The 2018 Napa Valley vintage belongs in an echelon with the finest of the past two decades. In terms of weather, "slow" and "easy" were consistent descriptors for this vintage.
APPELLATION: Napa Valley
VARIETAL: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Cab Franc
HARVEST DATES: Sept 17, 19, 27, and Oct 20, 2018
AGING: 100% French oak barrels. 45% new, 22 months, variety of coopers and barrel ages
BOTTLING DATE: June 23, 2020
RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2022
TA: 6.1 g/L
pH: 3.72
ALCOHOL: 15.1%
Temperature Control Shipping
All Central, Midwest & Eastern orders ship via temp control truck.
All Wines
92 Points
Aromas and robust flavors of dark cherry, blackberries, mocha, espresso and hints of black pepper. Incredibly balanced with a smooth mouthfeel and body against a backdrop of structured tannins. The wine unfolds with notes of clove and dried herbs, ending with a long rich finish.
Generously packed with exotic cassis, black cherry, cola and plum flavors knitted together in a creamy, velvety texture with nice layering, finishing with delightful notes of spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
Chewy & Ripe!
Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, bacon, blackberry jam, and black tea. Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight. Rich, structured, and complex, with a long evolving finish.
96 Points
Ripe, elegant, and juicy. Opens up with alluring aromas of red and black fruit with notes of roasted espresso, mocha, leather, mineral, fresh sage, savory spices, and cedar fill your glass.
98 Points, Best of Class
Super-Tuscan style blend offering aromas of ripe berries and black fruits, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, raw tobacco, leather, clove, blood orange peel, and roasted walnuts. Rich and generous flavors of briary blackberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and cassis.
Deep ruby in color this wine is bountiful, juicy and structured. Blueberry, black cherry and wild blackberry, framed by notes of sweet licorice, violets, sage and bay leaf. Impeccably balanced with fine dusty tannins hint at a long life ahead in the cellar.
94 Points
Kirsch, ripe plum and bramble with an undercurrent of star anise and toffee. Earthy, with wild blueberry and classic dusty character, balanced by fine tannins and fresh acidity.
Excellent, Great Value!
Aromas of rich cherry, black currant, dark plums, with hints of lightly toasted vanilla, mint and crushed slate. The concentrated flavors further integrate with blackberries, tobacco, anise and earthiness with a balanced oak profile, layered palette, leaving you with its delightful finish.
Crisp & Refreshing
Aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of fresh herb and pomegranate. Though packed with fruit, this Rosé finishes dry, with a nice balanced finish.
95 Points
Cherry blossom and raspberry over fresh pomegranate with subtle touches of dried violet and lavender, with notes of spice that carry through to its silky layers, juicy red core, and velvety fine-grained tannins. Embodies bright, high-toned fruit, generous round body, and a silky refined finish.
Plush & Velvety
Aromas of wild berries are interlaced with nuances of fresh lavender, dark chocolate truffle, baking spices, and cigar box, with generous flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and fresh currants are layered with hints of cocoa, cassis, allspice, and wild sage.
Big, Bold & Juicy!
Bountiful, lavish and plush with aromas of plum, bramble berry, mocha, cedar, and red currant. Loaded with dark fruit, the mouth is full with a mix of red and dark berry, with notes of dark on the end. There is a touch of espresso, ripe black cherry, and petrichor. Nicely framed by generous French oak.
Rich & Plush!
Notes of ripe plum, sweet maple-cured bacon, lavender, five-spice, and blueberry. The palate is lush with cherry pipe tobacco, blackberry, raspberry held together by mineral overtones and fresh acidity.
Pure, delicious, vibrant with aromas of white peach and wild white plum on the nose, followed by ripe Persian lime, jasmine high times, tart green apple, and crisp star fruit. The mouth centers in with pomelo and ginger lime leading into a mid-palate of fresh squeezed lime over papaya and lime zest on top of light lemon curd.
Rich & Luxurious!
Beautiful ruby color and opens with aromas of bright red plum and raspberry, cassis, and a touch of mint. The tannins are soft yet structured, and complemented by vibrant acidity, with hints of clove and baking spice from the oak aging. The wine ends with a long, smooth finish and lingering intensity encouraging you to enjoy another juicy sip.
94 Points
Lovely aromas of crushed blueberry, red and blue plum, dried violet flower. It's juicy and engaging, with mulled raspberry coursing through and offers balance and depth with perfect levels of acidity with silky tannins leading to a long engaging finish.
Modern, Sexy & Full
Aromas of wild blackberries and blueberries interwoven with enchanting notes of fresh mint, lavender, roasted walnut, savory spices, and a captivating hint of dark chocolate drizzled with fine balsamic. Notes of plum, blueberry and cassis with hints of wild sage, licorice, black pepper, and an elegant touch of fine-grained oak.
93 Points
This elegant Merlot greets the nose with rich aromas of chocolate, maraschino cherry and violets, followed by a lush mouth feel with layers of blackberry, currant, and a touch of caramel, cassis and white pepper. Its decadent flavors combine with soft and supple tannins to create a long silky smooth finish.
Jam & Spice!
Elegant, plush, and backed by power and grace. The nose pushes notes of blackberry and mocha, sweet maple-cured bacon, lavender, spice, and blueberry. The palate is lush with pipe tobacco, boysenberry held together by subtle pepper spice.
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