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
97 Points
Aromas of blackberries, graphite, and crushed rock, along with cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and a medley of dry herbs and spice.
A substantial mouthfeel, full-bodied structure, firm tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit. Well-balanced acidity collaborate harmoniously to accentuate the intricate flavors of berry compote, spices, and oak nuances reminiscent of mocha.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
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.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
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