Vineyard 29 29 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 750ml

Very deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate has a wonderfully complex nose chock full of smoked meat, yeast extract, toast, sautéed herbs and savory notes over a crème de cassis and blackberry tart core with hints of violets, damp loam and black truffles. Full-bodied, concentrated and full-on opulent in the mouth, the palate is laden with savory, earth and dark fruit layers with a velvety frame and lively lift on the long finish. 670 cases were made.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted from Vineyard 29. Bright and beautifully delineated, with striking energy, the 29 Estate is so impressive. Rich dark blue-toned fruit, licorice, lavender and chocolate infuse the 2018 with layers of nuance that continue to unfold over time. This is such a gorgeous wine. (Antonio Galloni)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate offers up intense notes of warm cassis, chocolate-covered cherries, blackberry preserves and wild blueberries with hints of smoked meats, cast iron pan, Indian spices and mossy tree bark in the undercurrent. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is taut and tightly wound, featuring muscular black fruits and a very firm, grainy texture, finishing long and mineral laced.

The gorgeous 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate displays the quality of this vintage, revealing a deep purple/plum color as well as well complex notes of currants, cedar pencil, dried tobacco, chocolate, and leafy herbs. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and incredibly elegant on the palate, it builds nicely with time in the glass and has ripe, yet present tannins, wonderful overall balance, and a great finish. A classic, complete Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it will benefit from 2–4 years of bottle age and keep for 15–20+.

Deep, saturated ruby. Captivating aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and menthol are complicated by a very ripe note of dark chocolate and lifted by a lovely violet element. Superripe, chocolatey and dense, conveying a youthfully medicinal quality to its black cherry and licorice flavors; aeration brought a subtle note of sesame paste. Finishes with huge, chewy tannins that dust the tongue and teeth. A bit youthfully brutal, this wine should evolve at a snail’s pace. The crop level here was just 2.4 tons per acre, according to Emerson. Incidentally, this was the first year in which the winery used Portacork’s ICON-certified corks utilizing NDtech technology to guarantee that corks do not have detectible levels of TCA. From an early harvest that was over by September 16.

Frankly ripe, with plum, blackberry and fig compote notes forming the core, this is wrapped in a healthy dose of toasty vanilla and ganache to boot, with just enough of a juicy edge to keep it going. For fans of the style. Drink now through 2024. 675 cases made. (James Molesworth)