2018 Lindstrom Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap Napa Valley

JD96 Made by Celia Welch and 100% Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a dense purple hue to go with a gorgeous, full-bodied, incredibly elegant wine carrying classic cassis fruits as well as notes of damp earth, violets, tobacco leaf, and graphite. With beautiful mid-palate depth, no hard edges, and flawless balance, it reminds me of the 2016 and will evolve for 20-25 years. 
Winemaker notes: This exquisite Stags Leap District Cabernet shows bright, very fresh cherry and blackberry aromas, a slight hint of bay leaf and black tea, loads of mocha and a few hints of caramel, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate the wine starts out full and soft and expands from there. The wine flows onto the palate with a sense of fresh, bright berry fruit and the texture of satin, then the finish lingers with the dark, ripe juicy berry notes again. A hint of toasted oak provides texture, weight and a sense of savory flavor to the wine.

The Lindstrom 2018 Cabernet was harvested from their estate in Stags Leap District between September 26 and October 10. The small blocks were harvested and fermented separately, transferred to French oak barrels (60% new) immediately after fermentation and kept separate for the first 12 months, then blended and returned to barrels for an additional 8 months. The wine was bottled in May 2020 without fining or filtration. 386 cases produced.