2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
The Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon was the third appellation wine to be introduced in our Cabernet series of very small bottlings dedicated to the benchland sub-appellations of Napa Valley. This bo...
The Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon was the third appellation wine to be introduced in our Cabernet series of very small bottlings dedicated to the benchland sub-appellations of Napa Valley. This bottling marks the eighth vintage of the Oakville Cabernet and celebrates Etude’s long-term relationship with one of the most highly regarded winegrowers in Napa Valley.
- Alcohol 14.0%
Tasting Notes
Big, expressive, powerful, and robust, this Cabernet is classic Oakville, exhibiting remarkable depth and complexity, tributes of the cooler western bench location in the valley. A richness of dark berry fruit is present, with dark black cherry, marionberry, blueberry and black raspberry, supported by more savory, earthy notes of wild sage, hazelnut, graphite, crushed granite, and tar. Exceptional concentration, seamlessly crafted, with generous balance, and mouth-coating, velvety tannins that are well-integrated with the oak spice, leading to a long unctuous finish with incredible depth of flavor and intensity. Craving big, meaty dishes, this Cabernet is perfectly paired alongside steak, but also drinks beautifully on its own. Full-bodied with tremendous structure that will continue to open and evolve as it ages, over many years to come.Vineyard Notes
Grapes were sourced exclusively from Block Three of the Vine Hill Ranch, planted to Clone 337, nestled along the hills of the Mayacamas Mountain Range at the south end of the Oakville AVA. The Phillips family has carefully managed this alluvial benchland vineyard with cobbly soils for three generations, home to some of the most expressive and concentrated Cabernet grapes in the Napa Valley. Michael Wolf, who has watched over Vine Hill for nearly two decades, makes certain the vineyard is healthy and offering its ultimate expression for Cabernet Sauvignon.Are you a Wine Club Member?
Specifications
Specifications
- Vintage: 2018
- Region: Napa Valley
- Appelation: Oakville
- ABV: 14.7
- Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes
Expert reviews
Vine Hill Ranch
Process
The 2018 vintage
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Napa & Carneros
A near perfect season was welcomed in 2018 after several tense vintages, beginning with abundant February rains followed by drying sun and weather that allowed for even flowering and bud break. The slightly later start was followed by consistently ideal weather, with harvest for Pinot Noir occurring in late August and early September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.
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Sonoma Coast
Hallberg sits in one of the coolest areas of Sonoma County. Cooler temperatures and moderate weather allowed grapes to ripen perfectly, developing deep complexity, intensity, ripeness and balance with a beautiful freshness that came naturally. There was little to no frost during the spring fruit set and no heat spikes throughout the growing season – all of which helped the grapes reach full maturity, with harvest occurring in mid-September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.
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Willamette Valley
The Yamhill-Carlton District of Willamette Valley experienced an almost return to normal vintage in 2018. The spring and summer were some of the warmest and driest on record, but with no heat spikes recorded, the season increased in length due to the cool autumn weather. That allowed grapes to hang and develop complex flavors on the vine, while retaining freshness and acidity. The characteristic of the vintage is rich Pinot Noir fruit, with fully developed flavors, and a richness of tannins that gave structure to the wines.
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Santa Barbara
What may be considered a ‘classic’ vintage, the wines from 2018 show tremendous intensity and complexity. Santa Barbara County provided a mild to warm summer, with a cooler autumn, allowing the grapes to remain on the vine until they reached ideal maturity. While the quality of the grapes was phenomenal, our overall yields were down slightly due to smaller berry size and clusters. The fruit was harvested in late September, yielding wines with beautifully balanced acidity, exceptional weight and texture, and complex varietal flavors.
Winemaking