Ehlers Estate, Saint Helena, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

  Ehlers Estate has long been the go-to for quintessential Napa Cabernet.  In the late 1800s, Bernard Ehlers bought a 10-acre parcel of land in St. Helena, planting an olive grove and replanting the struggling vineyards.  By 1886, he finished constructing the stone barn that still serves as the estate’s tasting room.  This blend of 80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 20 percent Cabernet Franc is brimming with plum, cherries, sage, violets, cocoa, and cassis aromas.  The wine offers blackberry, dark chocolate, cedar, and a subtle touch of vanilla on the palate.  The acidity is beautifully balanced while the tannins horseshoe around your mouth, leading to a long and big finish.  Drink now and over the next five to ten years.