Hess The Lion Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

The estate-grown 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Lion was made with the consultancy of Celia Welch (winemaker for Scarecrow) and is made up of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black colored, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notions of warm cassis, preserved plums, blueberry pie and chocolate-covered cherries with touches of dried mint, violets, tilled soil, cinnamon stick and smoked meats. Full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of very firm, very ripe grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the expressive black fruit and earthy layers, finishing with fantastic length and depth. Very classy! This should age incredibly. 450 cases were made. (LPB) 97+ (10/2019)

Features a deep well of açaí berry, blueberry and blackberry reduction flavors holding sway over briar, black tea, melted black licorice and apple wood notes. All the elements meld easily as this sails effortlessly through the length finish, no small feat for a wine of this depth and power. (JM) (2/2020)

From the producer’s Mount Veeder vineyards, this wine is blended with 14% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Thick and concentrated in red fruit and oak, it has a strong presence of oak and sage on the palate. The finish is lengthy in black pepper and integrated tannins.

Distinctly Veeder in its fir-tree forest scents and rustic tannins, this is a powerful mountain-grown cabernet. It bristles with tannic spice and the peppery bite of alcohol, youthfully potent, needing several years of bottle age to mellow.