98pts Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena comes from alluvial soils, and its dense purple hue is followed by a rich, powerful, concentrated wine loaded with ripe black (and some red) fruits, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, chocolate, and hints of spring flowers. Incredible on the palate as well, it’s full-bodied, has an unctuous, layered, straight-up seamless mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great, great finish. The texture, as well as the tannins, are truly special. It needed lots of air to show at its best, but it’s unquestionably drinking brilliantly today. It will shine for over two decades.
Winemaker Notes
Dense ruby-black with an electric amaranthine rim. Viscous and loaded with loganberry, black currant, and spearmint aromas that evolve slowly to reveal complex notes of licorice, cardamom, violet, and wild sage nuances. On entry, the muscularity is immediately evident. Equal measures of perfectly ripe fruit and savory herbal flavors are bound by supple, tongue-coating tannins.
Highly concentrated at its core, this is a robust and highly complex wine, seamlessly integrating seemingly disparate notes of blackberry, cassis, licorice, tilled earth, mint, and herbs de Provence. The finish builds in a resonant crescendo of fruit, earth, and spice that holds one in rapt attention. Raw power cloaked in refinement now, it will only get better. Drink now – 2049.