Beau Vigne ‘Cult’ Cabernet Sauvignon “10th Anniversary” 2018 – 750ml Consortium

93pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cult is the finest wine I have tasted from Beau Vigne. Rich, layered and expressive, the 2018 has a lot to offer. Black cherry, licorice, lavender, spice and espresso build in the glass. The 2018 is a rich, luscious Cabernet that also avoids being overly heavy.

92pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cult is a blend of both of the estate vineyards: Stags Ridge and Soda Canyon, with 15% blended from Rutherford and Oakville. It was aged in 100% new oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with showy black fruit notions of preserved plums, baked blueberries and crème de cassis plus suggestions of hoisin, cedar chest, pencil lead and tilled soil with a touch of sautéed herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with black fruit preserves with loads of exotic spice and herbal sparks, framed by chewy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing earthy.
One of my favorite wineries, Beau Vigne’s 10-acre vineyard sits at a high 1,650-foot elevation in the southern Napa Valley, back Soda Canyon Road, overlooking the Pritchard Hill Gap as well as the Stagecoach Vineyard. The AVA for these wines is Atlas Peak, and the soils are all of volcanic origin. The top-notch consulting winemaker is none other than Kirk Venge.

Winemaker Notes

A true expression of CULT Cabernet Sauvignon and all it is intended to be. First released in 2008 and is culled solely from barrels selected with complex aromatics, voluptuous texture and purity as well as depth. The 10th Anniversary CULT conveys the celebrated history of the wine. A pure expression of climate and soil with winemaker Julien Fayard nurturing its creation.

CULT 10th Anniversary is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and possesses supernatural aromatics and pure ripe fruit with focus and energy. The complexity of vineyard sites yield an unusually dynamic profile of flavor. The 2018 10th Anniversary is more expressive in its approach, similar to our 98+ point 2012 vintage. It demonstrates structural intensity, balance with fresh acidity and über plush tannins all elements that make them very age-worthy but ultra-inviting. Layers of vibrant cassis, black cherry, and black currant interplay with infusions of graphite and sweet tobacco that unfold. The palate displays profound density woven with finessed tannin that transcends to a seemingly endless and intense finish.