Hamel Family Wines, Moon Mountain District – Sonoma County (California) 2018

 A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Cabernet Franc, this high-end wine shows lots of high-end quality to justify its asking price.  The core of fruit shows excellent concentration and fine purity, with the latter characteristic surely enhanced by a sensible usage of oak in the aging process.  That is conducted over a span of 20 Months and incorporates 36% new French oak barrels and 64% neutral barrels, also French.  The portion of new oak lends spice more than toasty or charry notes, and also a bit of added tannin, but the fruit easily outruns any astringent effect in the finish.