Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Ripe plums and blackberries with some coca-nib, vanilla, bread-crust and smoke notes. Full-bodied with velvety tannins, deep fruit and bright acidity. Tight and reserved, yet juicy, with a long finish. Approachable now, but better in 2022.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 88.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.2% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1.1% Syrah, .5% Malbec, .5% Cabernet Franc and .5% Petite Sirah. Deep garnet-purple in color, it offers up vivacious scents of warm cassis, juicy blueberries and Black Forest cake with hints of dried herbs and tilled earth. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit preserves flavors with a soft, approachable texture and plenty of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.

The base Cabernet from this terrific estate is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, which checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It has beautiful notes of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco, and ground herbs as well as a dense, rich, concentrated style on the palate. This terrific Cabernet is going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and cruise for upwards of 15 years (or more) in cool cellars.