2017 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard Napa Valley

JS99 Perfect aromas of crushed berries, cedar, roses and blackberries. Touch of rose leaf. Medium body, very fine tannins and nuanced flavors. Lovely, complex finish. Wonderful elegance and length. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.

WA97: Helms vineyard consists of five acres on gravelly loam, right on the northern edge of the Rutherford bench, planted in 1997 and 1998. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and slips seductively out of the glass with compelling scents of blackberry pie, baked black cherries and warm cassis with hints of raspberry leaves, tilled black loam, truffles and tar. The full-bodied palate is satisfyingly rich and plush, yet it has a fantastic backbone of freshness lifting all the opulent fruit to a long, lively, mineral-tinged finish.