2018 Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (375ml)
SKU #1554868
93 points
Decanter
Leading with 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, sourced from Rutherford, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, Calistoga and Oakville, then aged 16 months in 50% new French oak, this is a classic, quintessential Napa Cabernet. Flashy, brambly blackberry, black olive, plums and cassis aromas continue on the chewy palate, along with pencil shavings, tobacco, chocolate and vanilla. Supple mouthfeel with a dusty tannin backbone and excellent balance between sweet and savoury flavours. A lovely vintage of this wine to enjoy now and over the next decade.
K&L Notes
Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Bordeaux varietals from the Napa Valley for 40 years, until the winery's sale to a private equity firm in 2016. Famed for their Merlot wines, somehow the Duckhorns managed to sneak their Cabernet Sauvignon wines out the door without anyone noticing. A combination of estate and purchased fruit from Napa Valley allowed Dan and Margaret to demonstrate the blending skills they picked up in Bordeaux. They did an excellent job, and the new management/ownership group has continued to employ the same approach to Cabernet Sauvignon that the Duckhorns themselves did for so many decades.