Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow is a blend of 78.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.4% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 5.1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slips effortlessly from the glass, singing of ripe black cherries, black raspberries and cassis, plus hints of red currants, roses, cinnamon stick and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers lovely freshness, offering bags of perfumed black fruits in the mouth, beautifully supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long with lots of soft-spoken floral and mineral whispers. This perfumed beauty wears the 2018 vintage stamp well, presenting a more delicate expression of this vineyard-one that I love! 647 cases were made.

Cellar Selection. This pebbly portion of the estate vineyard consists of five acres, originally planted in 1968. With small percentages of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, it is woody in forest, graphite and clove, with a silky, rounded and expansive palate of rich, red fruit. With balanced acidity and structure, it has a long, spicy finish of clove and will do well in the cellar. Enjoy best from 2028-2038.

Ripe and a bit showy in feel, with a blast of cassis and plum puree notes liberally laced with violet, singed apple wood and red licorice. A mix of iron and warm stone accents cut in on the finish, pulling everything together as the violet note takes an encore. Best from 2022 through 2038. 647 cases made.