2019 Brand Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best wines I have ever tasted here. Bright and aromatic, with striking balance, the 2019 is super-expressive in the early going. Sweet floral and spice notes lend brightness to this sleek, stylish mid-weight Napa Valley Cabernet. The 2019 is a gorgeous wine that points to a very bright future for Brand in its second incarnation.

Camphor, cedar, cassis and blackberries all appear on the nose of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, a massively concentrated yet vibrant offering. It's full-bodied and intense, velvety and rich, but it shows ample energy and thrust on the finish. If there's a complaint, it's that it's too monolithic, but I'd chalk that up to its youth at this stage and expect it to gain complexity as it ages for two decades or more. Both the 2018 and 2019 vintages have turned out well at this boutique property, located high on the slopes of Pritchard Hill. Purchased in 2019 by former Apple execs Jim Bean and Christine O'Sullivan, the vineyards are undergoing conversion to biodynamic principles. Consultant Philippe Melka has been involved with Brand since the project's inception.