We welcome the 2018 and 2019 vintage releases. The weather was picture perfect and the results are incredible. These vintages show very distinct profiles highlighted by a density of flavor that I find quite thrilling. All the wines will age beautifully and all of them benefit from a long decant – including the highly rated 96 Cedars which may be the bargain of the 2019 vintage!
2018 Right Blend
We continued our love affair with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Their combination continues to be exceptional. The wine is dark and lush with the ripe fruit playing a leading role – a contribution from the Merlot – and spicy structure to frame that fruit provided by the Cabernet Franc. The nose starts warm and lush, and with air it shows dark cherry compote, plum, some wood spice, hints of pepper and it will evolve as you sit and enjoy it.
The palate starts dark with black cherry, plum, blackberry and blueberry. It evolves on your palate and shows lovely complexity and length. The finish will go on for some time and bring you back for more.
$40
75% Merlot
25% Cabernet Franc
100% Red Mountain
14.5% alcohol
Bottled May 2020
2018 Left Blend
The Left Blend absolutely requires some air before drinking. Once open this wine has tremendous aromatic complexity that will immediately capture your attention. This is a wine of elegance, structure and longevity. There is laser like focus on the dark fruit, framed by some lovely oak flavors.
With air the wine will darken and gain complexity. The nose shows heavy floral elements followed by dark fruit notes of black and blue, hints of wood spice, and pepper. Layers of interest can be found if you just sit and sniff this wine.
The palate starts off smooth as silk with dark, full fruit notes, fine grained tannins, cassis, and a very long complex finish that will bring you back for more. The finish will go on for as long as you wish to contemplate it. It will draw you back for more almost immediately though.
This wine shows its Red Mountain pedigree very clearly. It is capable of a decade or more of aging and will drink beautifully for quite a while.
$50
100% Red Mountain
67% Cabernet Sauvignon
8% Merlot
8% Cabernet Franc
17% Petit Verdot
2018 Ciel de Cheval
2018 was a picture perfect vintage at this great vineyard. The results speak for themselves. Rich dark fruit – dark cherry, cassis, spice notes, lots of Red Mountain tannins. It is layered with flavors that unwind gracefully on your palate and linger for ages. This wine immediately brings you back for another sip long before it has faded as you enjoy its long lingering flavors of dark choke cherry with a touch of vanilla and spice..
$54
50% Cabernet Sauvignon
25% Cabernet Franc
25% Merlot
100% Red Mountain
100% Ciel de Cheval Vineyard
14.5% alcohol
Bottled June, 2020
2021 Sauvignon Blanc
2021 was a picture perfect year for white wine on Red Mountain. The wine is crisp with lovely citrus notes, the Sauvignon Blanc was beautiful this year and stands on its own for only the second time since our inaugural release in 2008. It was left on the lees for 7 months to develop some lovely complex layers of flavor in addition to the added complexity added by 1/3 barrel fermentation, and has a nice acid backbone and crisp finish. This wine pairs well with food and has become a favorite in our house paired with pan fried catfish or herb roasted chicken.
$22
100% Sauvignon Blanc
100% Red Mountain
100% Artz Vineyard
12.5% alcohol
Bottled May, 2021
2018 96 Cedars Red
This wine is a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The nose starts out with rich dark fruit, a floral element and some nice interesting spice notes. Allowing this wine to open up (and it does need time!) will bring depth and structure to complement the rich, dark fruit. The palate is rich, and full with dark plum, rich cherry, blackberry liquor, vanilla, and spice all show up for your enjoyment. The finish is dark, smooth and very, very long.This wine is structured and can be laid down for some time or you can enjoy it young in its youthful fruit forward stage.
$27.
27% Merlot
38% Cabernet Sauvignon
23% Cabernet Franc
6% Petit Verdot
3% Malbec
3% Syrah
100% Red Mountain
13.8% alcohol
Bottled May, 2021
2018 Auclair Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Heart of the Hill vineyard is starting to become well known and for good reason. Scott Williams of Kiona, farms this vineyard. We always give this wine added bottle rest to settle down in the bottle but after 2 years in bottle it still requires a nice decant or a long sleep in your cellar to show its best. This vineyard is a special place on Red Mountain. The fruit has become renown by winemakers and drinkers alike.
The nose shows dark fruit, restrained oak notes and is just a joy to sit and sniff and will keep bringing you back as the scents evolve.
The palate is silky smooth, dark, tannic but without harsh edges, very rich and densely flavored (typical of 2018 vintage) and quite long on the finish. The acidity is just right and assists in providing structure and flavor that will improve with age. The finish is long and silky.
This wine drinks so well now it will be hard to keep your hands off it but I promise it will improve with age.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Red Mountain
100% Heart of the Hill Vineyard
14.5% alcohol
Bottled June, 2020
2019 Auclair Artz Vineyard Syrah
The Syrah was co-fermented with 3% viognier to add aromatic lift and that certainly succeeded as the nose on this wine is nicely lifted and quite nice. The Cabernet Sauvignon was added for additional complexity and roundness.
The nose shows nice lift and depth. Dark floral notes, white pepper spice, brambly raspberry and dark cherry all combine to show some complexity and depth and bring you back to sniff again.
The palate starts off smooth, with rich dark fruit and lite pepper spice –dark, rich, raspberry, some umami flavors to add complexity, all make this an interesting and complex wine . This wine immediately brings you back for another sip long before it has faded into its long lingering finish.
This wine is capable of a decade or more of aging and will drink beautifully for quite a while.
$35
87% Syrah
10% Cabernet Sauvignon
3% Viognier
100% Red Mountain
13% alcohol
Bottled May, 2021
2019 Auclair Cabernet Franc
Once in a blue moon the Cabernet Franc demands its own wine. This was one of those vintages. This wine sings once it opens up, with notes of complex spice, violets, and dark cherry fruit. The palate is rich and smooth with a touch of that signature Cab Franc herbaciousness that we all love.
This wine is capable of a decade or more of aging and will drink beautifully for quite a while. We recently opened some 2013 Cab Franc and proved out the age-ability of this wine as the 2013 was still not peaking!
$45
75% Cabernet Franc
25% Merlot
100% Red Mountain
13.5% alcohol
Bottled May, 2021
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