2018 Engelhard Vineyard Proprietary Red
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Proprietary Red Wine Engelhard Vineyard comes from 20-year-old vines from a vineyard in Calistoga (with fruit that previously went to Peter Michael). It's mostly Cabernet Sauvignon but includes a good bit of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It's inky hued, with a beautiful perfume of red and black fruits along with more subtle, complex notes of spring flowers, leafy tobacco, and chocolate. It has that classic 2018 vibrancy and lift, with full-bodied richness, fine tannins, and flawless balance. It's a gorgeous wine that needs just a few more years of bottle age and is going to have 20-25+ years of prime drinking.
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Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Red Wine Blend Engelhard Vineyard is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec and 4% Merlot, all coming from a single vineyard in Calistoga, all co-fermented. Very deep garnet-purple colored, the nose gives up classic crème de cassis, plum preserves and cedar chest notes, with hints of wild sage and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers taut, muscular fruit with a firm, grainy texture and bold freshness, finishing long and earthy. 270 cases were made.
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Engelhard Vineyard is a wild, exotic wine. Powerful, deep and savory, the 2018 exudes class from the very first taste. Dark fruit, blood orange, menthol, spice and licorice are some of many aromas and flavors that meld together in this wonderfully rich, explosive Cabernet from Impensata. Far from an easygoing 2018, the Impensata Cabernet is going to require cellaring to be at its finest. (AG)