Winemaker Notes
This Year, The Tools Include Seven Appellations And 32 Individual Wine Lots. With The Right Vision, Cardinale Crafted The Finished Piece – 2018 Cardinale. Super Structured And With Minerality To Spare, This Cabernet Sauvignon Offers A Real Presence On The Palate From Start To Finish. Generous Notes Of Dark Chocolate Balance Beautifully With A Blue And Black Fruit Flavor Explosion, Finishing With A Subtle Whisper Of Rose Petal.
Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
Critical Acclaim
Jeb Dunnuck – 98pts
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Is Based On A Blend Of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon And 10% Merlot That Spent 22 Months In 81% New French Oak. It’s A Wonderfully Complete, Borderline Perfect Wine That Shows The Class Of This Estate As Well As The Vintage, Revealing A Seamless, Full-Bodied Style That Carries Lots Of Blackcurrant, Graphite, Lead Pencil, And Tobacco Aromatics, A Deep, Layered Mid-Palate, Ultra-Fine Tannins, And Flawless Balance. As With Most Of Chris’s 2018s, It’s A Wine That Builds Slowly With Time In The Glass, Offering A Layered, Singular Character. It’s A Gorgeous 2018 That Can Be Drunk Today With Ample Pleasure, But It Will Ideally Be Given 4-6 Years Of Bottle Age, At Which Point It Should Evolve Gracefully For 30-40 Years. 98+
Wine Enthusiast – 98pts
Fantastic Vintage, Fantastic Winemaking And The Addition Of 10% Merlot Make For A Magical Experience Of Structure And Graceful Complexity In This Always Impressive, Collectible Wine. Saline, Dried Herb, Cedar, Pencil And Crushed Rock Provide A Landscape Of Savory Earthiness, While A Hint Of Rich Red Fruit Remains Subtle And Youthful In Grippy Intensity. Enjoy Best From 2028.
James Suckling – 97pts
Aromas Of Blackberries, Plums And Spice With Some Pine Needles And Fresh Mushrooms. Full-Bodied With Very Fine, Round Tannins And A Juicy Sophistication And Flavorful Profile. Dark And Thought-Provoking. So Approachable. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon And 10% Merlot.
