2018 "G III" Cabernet Sauvignon

A seductive ripe-fruit and floral nose. Medium-to full-bodied with notes of blackberries, blackcurrants, violets and spice. Light, fresh jam, too. It’s full and compact with a dense, deep palate and beautiful fruit. Firm and bright. Try after 2024. (12/2020)

Coming from a larger, famous site in Rutherford, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer GII Vineyard is another superstar in the lineup. Possessing a dense purple color, it delivers a monster bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, chocolate, tobacco, sweet mulch, and a Graves-like sense of gravelly earth and minerality. While I suspect the acidity is quite low, it stays lively on the palate, possessing full-bodied richness, soft tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish. This super-rich, opulent, incredibly sexy Cabernet Sauvignon should evolve for 20 years or more. (01/2021)

A big wine, with tiers of cassis, plum reduction and blackberry preserves giving this verticality, while dense graphite and roasted apple wood notes provide the spine. A pretty violet note provides contrast, and there's a long tug of warm earth through the finish too, giving this a very solid grounding. Patience required, as this is locked up right now. Best from 2023 through 2038. 170 cases made.

- J.M.