Lot 68
2018 Sonoma County "Mountain" Cabernet Sauvignon (92-points)

Dark and brooding in the glass it starts very earthy and graphitic with lots of deep plum, chaparral, herb and licorice notes flashing with black cherry, sage and leather. Powdery purple florals, crushed volcanic rock and dark earth are constant once it opens up. Smooth and surprisingly lush and full on the palate, its focused and concentrated with chewy tannin and bright, lingering black cherry on the finish. This will be dynamite once it coalesces.

UPDATED FEBRUARY, 2022 DRINK OR HOLD – this wine will continue to improve but its so damn lovely now, why wait? The price is insane too, so one could be forgiven for going hog-wild on these in the near-term. Focused blackberry syrup with violets complexed with seasoned spruce hardwoods and baking spice…juicy, open, and electric on the palate with a zesty, mouthwatering structure that just sings mineral mountain restraint.

UPDATED JUNE 27, 2021 Just cracking open but still tightly wrapped in high-altitude, mountain tannins. Soy, toffee, warm wax oak aromas dominate the dark cherry fruit…brooding, earthy mountain cab with graphite, chaparral herbs/anise/sage, dried black cherry, leather - smooth and lush full palate, focused and concentrated with chewy tannin and bright lingering black cherry on the finish. Day Two: Mountain chaparral begins to escape the abyss as the aromatic complexity emerges. Good fruit impression on the palate but it is tightly wound with bourbon oak and tannins. Look to the Fall.