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.

Sauvignon The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark, powerful wine but not quite as open or generous as it can be. This rugged hillside Stags Leap site, more a collection of tiny blocks, yields a very pretty and expressive Cabernet endowed with terrific energy and aromatic lift. Dark fruit, mocha, lavender and mint are all beautifully delineated. In 2018, the Lindstrom Cabernet is especially elegant and refined, but it is also a bit closed. I would give it a few years to soften a bit further. -- Antonio Galloni