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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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