Winemaker Notes
Replenishing Winter Rains Ushered An Exceptional Start To The 2018 Growing Season, Leading To A Lengthy Budbreak And Flowering, With Nearly Perfect Fruit-Set Throughout A Cool Spring. Warm Weather And Bright Sunshine Settled In By June, But The Nights Remained Very Cool, And The Season Progressed Without Any Major Heat Spikes. These Ideal Conditions Continued Well Into The Fall, Leading To Even Ripening Of Tannins, Sugar Levels, And Acidity. The 2018 Helena Dakota Is Characteristically Fragrant, Opulent, And Complex, Bursting With Fresh Blueberry And Black Currant, Crème De Violette, And Subtle Fresh Bay Leaf Aromatics. The Palate Is Luxurious And Rich, Perfectly Balancing This Wine’s Firm Structure, And Driving To A Long Finish Of Dark Baking Chocolate And Luscious Dark Fruit.
Critical Acclaim
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 99pts
Made From 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard Was Aged For 12 Months In 100% New French Oak. Deep Garnet-Purple In Color, It Has A Profound Yet Slightly Broody Nose To Begin, Slowly Unfurling To Reveal Wonderfully Fragrant Notes Of Wild Blueberries, Black Cherries, Dark Chocolate And Warm Cassis, Followed By Nuances Of Garrigue, Violets, Tar And Licorice Plus A Touch Of Wet Stones. Medium To Full-Bodied, The Palate Has Gorgeous Velvety Tannins And Finely Knit Freshness Supporting Generous Black And Blue Fruits, Finishing Very Long And Achingly Fragrant. Wow.
Jeb Dunnuck – 98pts
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard Is Even More Concentrated And Dense, With A Massive Core Of Ripe Blackcurrants, Crushed Stone, Leather, Tobacco, Spicy Oak, And Graphite, And It Has This Burning Ember-Like Character That Reminds Me Of A Great Hermitage. More Medium To Full-Bodied On The Palate, It Has Remarkable Balance, Ultra-Fine Tannins, A Great Spine Of Acidity, And One Heck Of A Finish. As With The Helena Montana Vineyard, It’s A Baby That Needs At Least 4-5 Years Of Bottle Age And Will Have 30+ Years Of Longevity. It’s On Par With The Finest Bordeaux Blends Coming Out Of California Today.
James Suckling – 97pts
Blueberry And Blackberry With Pine-Cone And Violet Undertones. Blackcurrants, Too. Full-Bodied With Very Chewy Yet Fine Tannins And A Long, Long Finish. Gravel And Stone Undertones At The End. Velvety Texture.
