22nd Oct 2020 | The Wine Advocate | October 22 Week 3

As I’m tasting through the Napa Valley new releases — predominately the 2018s — I am absolutely LOVING the sheer variety of delicious red wine styles this region now has to offer. Perhaps a product of the vintage and no doubt as well that of the times, now more than ever, I believe this place truly does offer something for everyone. Before I publish the big Napa report, I wanted to push some of my favorite new wines forward in this special feature, to highlight some of the unequivocal successes. Enjoy!

Rating: 95+
Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Date: January 27, 2021
Source: Napa Valley’s 2018s

The 100% varietal 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve comes from the Prichard Ridge Vineyard on Atlas Peak and, I suspect, was brought up in plenty of new French oak. Its dense purple color is followed by powerful, brooding notes of blackcurrants, cassis, dark chocolate, cigar smoke and rocky, earthy minerality. It’s a full-bodied, concentrated, beautifully balanced wine that stays tight and coiled on the palate. Give bottles 4-5 years if possible and it should evolve gracefully for two decades.

Rating: 95+
Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Issue Date: October 22, 2020
Source: October 2020 Week 3, The Wine Advocate

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve displays a deep garnet-purple color and intense scents of crème de cassis, plum preserves and baked black cherries with nuances of spice cake, fragrant earth, lavender and spice cake. The rich, concentrated, full-bodied palate has a rock-solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and perfumed. 127 cases were made.

Cardano Estate is a new project established by Edward  Lewis Snider, former owner and winemaker at Beau Vigne. The vineyard is a tiny, four-acre plot of Cabernet Sauvignon situated high on Atlas Peak, at 1,200 feet, in an area called “Prichard Ridge.” These first releases are very impressive indeed, delivering powerful fruit juxtaposed by earthy restraint and with a solid backbone for long aging. With Snider’s son, Nicholas, on board, this is a hot newcomer to the Napa Cab scene and one worth jumping onboard early!

Rating: 92
Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Date: January 27, 2021
Source: Napa Valley’s 2018s

Coming all from Atlas Peak and including 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Broken Shale is a more lifted, perfumed wine offering a touch of minerality in its blue fruits, candied violets, sandalwood, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. It’s another medium to full-bodied, rich, opulent wine that’s already a joy to drink.

Rating: 93+
Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Issue Date: November 5, 2020
Source: November 2020 Week 1, The Wine Advocate

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Broken Shale is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it sails out of the glass with lifted notes of blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberries and pencil lead, followed by hints of camphor, espresso and smoked meats. Full-bodied, wonderfully concentrated and delivering a firm, grainy texture, it has just enough freshness and a long, savory finish. 142 cases were made.

Rating: 96
Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Date: January 27, 2021
Source: Napa Valley’s 2018s

While a small step up in price, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Fruit is worth it and is one of the top values found in the vintage. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, it has classy, complex notes of blueberries, blackberries, unsmoked tobacco, leather, and white truffle. It’s one of those wines you could smell all night, and it doesn’t disappoint on the palate either, offering full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and ultra-fine tannins. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 15 years or more.

Rating: 94
Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Issue Date: November 5, 2020
Source: November 2020 Week 1, The Wine Advocate

Composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Fruit sports a deep garnet-purple color. It is a little broody to begin, delivering notes of cedar chest, black olives, pencil shavings and charcoal over a core of cassis, redcurrant jelly, stewed plums and spice box. Full-bodied, the palate has a firm frame of grainy tannins and great tension supporting the taut, muscular black and red fruit, finishing long and earthy. Give this one a couple more years in bottle and drink it over the next 18 years+. 226 cases were made.

Rating: 92
Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Date: January 27, 2021
Source: Napa Valley’s 2018s

A new project from Ed Snider at Beau Vigne, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 1913 checks in as 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. A smoking value, it gives up lots of chocolaty dark fruits, cassis, tobacco, and cedary spice notes to go with full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. It will compete with wines three times the cost.

Rating: 92
Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Issue Date: November 5, 2020
Source: November 2020 Week 1, The Wine Advocate

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 1913 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose bursts with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie, chocolate mint and tobacco with wafts of cedar chest and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid frame of lovely, ripe, grainy tannins to support the bags of black fruit, finishing with impressive purity. 1,972 cases were made.