Serene Cellars, Pope Valley (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

 This is a big-ticket wine that proves completely convincing even when the price tag is in view.  The aromas are highly complex, with subtle barrel notes of vanilla, spices and toast working harmoniously with ripe fruit recalling dark berries and cassis.  This ensemble of sensory signals transitions smoothly from bouquet to the palate and into the finish, with an exceptional symmetry and integration evident at every stage.  One important characteristic is that this is as polished as one might expect at its price level, yet not too polished, in the sense that it has lots of robust energy that will enable years of further development.