99 Point Vintage - Wine Spectator
This is a bottle every Cabernet lover must have in their cellar for the next decade... or at least on their dinner table in the short term! Pairs perfectly with roasted duck breast with berry sauce or for a vegetarian option, try herbed goat cheese stuffed mushrooms.
Vintage: In a spectacular 2018 vintage that Wine Spectator awarded 99 points, Judd's Hill put out a stunner. Lush, structured, and complex, it's everything you want Napa Cabernet to be. A bountiful vintage marked by cool, consistent temperatures and a timely rainfall for bud break in March and April. Harvest began on September tenth, and the grapes were of the highest quality.
Winemaking: Crafted through thoughtful winemaking and artful blending. Each vintage of Founder’s Art begins with a tasting and assessment of the individual Bordeaux varietal barrels at Judd’s Hill. There are barrels that, when tasted, rise to the top of the list. Every year, the blend is slightly different, allowing the vintage to really shine. Vineyard sources for the 2018 vintage include: Weir, and Wolf.
The Label: The Founder’s Art embodies the physical media of art through the beautiful renderings of the founder, Art Finkelstein's paintings found on each vintage's label, as well as the ephemeral art inside the bottle.
Alcohol: 14.7% by volume
Varietals: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cab Franc, 4% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Appellation: Napa Valley Estate
Total acid: 6.0 g/L
pH: 3.70
Aging: 30% New French oak barrels
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
95 Points
Lofty aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, and plum mingle with hints of baking spices and a touch of violet. The palate reveals luscious flavors of ripe berries, complemented by notes of black pepper and a subtle earthiness. With well-integrated tannins and a long lingering finish.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
Exceptional!
Reddish-purple in color with aromas of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, herbs de Provence, and licorice. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry, cassis, and licorice that carries through, with notes of black pepper, mocha and chocolate. Very long, spicy, with a fruit-driven finish. Great aging potential.
92 Points
Inviting aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, and pomegranate. The palate unfolds with layered flavors of black cherry, raspberry cordial, vanilla bean and spice, where focused tannins envelop, leading to a rich red fruit finish with blue fruit undertones.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
This golden-hued wine sings with a cornucopia of rich fruit balanced by high-toned, vibrant acidity. It opens with concentrated aromas of Asian pear, Gravenstein apple, and honeysuckle interspersed with mineral notes of wet river rock. Fresh flavors of White peach and Asian pear mingle on the palate with a touch of lemon zest and ripe stone fruits, boasting a beautifully creamy texture and vibrant finish.
90 Points
Deep garnet in color, with enticing aromas of brandied cherry, lavender, and forest floor. The palate is juicy and engaging with blueberries coursing through with depth and keeps you running back for more. Pure and balanced with perfect levels of acidity with notes of salted caramel, and cocoa. It's ripe silky tannins lead to a long supple finish that just keeps on giving.
94 Points
A classic expression of coastal influenced Chardonnay with aromas of honey, apple chutney, lime blossom, and gentle Indian spice box undertones. A big juicy entry on the palate, showing a silky texture with excellent tension and structure, ending with a complex, layered finish.
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