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 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: 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: 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 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.