2018 Frank Family Winston Hill Rutherford
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Winston Hill is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little swirling to unlock latent scents of crushed blackcurrants, wild blueberries and black raspberries, plus hints of rose oil, cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has electric energy, featuring bright, crunchy fruit and a lively backbone with firm, fine-grained tannins to support, finishing long and fragrant. Give it at least 2-3 years in bottle before broaching, and then drink it over the next 20 years+.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Coming all from Rutherford, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Winston Hill checks in as a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot. Tight, backward notes of crème de cassis, green tobacco, violets, cedar, and a touch of forest floor all emerge from this beauty. A classic 2018 on the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied and has a nicely concentrated, focused, elegant texture, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. While I don’t think this matches the 2015, it’s going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age, and I suspect it will evolve gracefully for 20-25 years in cold cellars.
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Winston Hill is a beautiful wine. Rich, effusive aromatics give the Winston Hill striking presence right out of the gate. Crushed flowers, raspberry, spice, mint and cedar follow, adding gorgeous layers of nuance. This rich yet mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon has a ton to offer. The Winston Hill is especially seductive in 2018.