This wine always seems to land in my top tier, and it almost always rises to the top in blind tastings of similarly tiered wines. It hits my perfect score again with the 2018, which winemaker Aron Weinkauf describes as a vintage where “our hand was never forced” by weather issues, which made a perfect pick possible. Depth, power, and weight are counterbalanced by elegance, brightness and structure, and though these elements may seem unlikely to appear together in the same glass, you will see what I mean right away when you taste for yourself. Then you can add your own adjectives. Contains 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.
Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, St. Helena, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
By Rich Cook