Red Blend “Houyi Vineyard”, Realm Cellars, Napa Valley, CA, 2018

All Cabernet Sauvignon and from a site on Pritchard Hill, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard sports a deep purple color as well as a perfumed, complex bouquet of red plums, blueberries, chocolate, dried herbs, and violets. It shows more cedary spice with time in the glass and is full-bodied, has a seamless, layered texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It has ample upfront fruit yet also sound underlying structure

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard Pritchard Hill is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Nine Suns property. Opaque purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with exuberant scents of warm cassis, black cherries and boysenberries plus hints of cloves, mocha, lilacs and bay leaves. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers striking purity with well-defined blackcurrant and cherry flavors accented by floral and exotic spice notes. It has a solid foundation of firm, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, delivering a long, mineral-laced finish. (LPB) 96+

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard is dark, voluptuous and enveloping. Inky blackberry fruit, chocolate, spice, licorice and espresso build in a sumptuous, potent Napa Valley Cabernet loaded with class. Winemaker Benoit Touquette coaxed an unreal amount of finesse in the tannins from this hillside site next to Brand and Colgin. This is an especially opulent, jammy style, and it all works so well. Time in the glass brings out striking energy and a whole range of floral accents that add brightness. There is an effortless grace that will make the 2018 very easy to drink with minimal cellaring. (AG)