2018 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Calistoga

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is deep garnet-purple colored, charging out of the gate with savory notions of sautéed herbs, beef drippings and truffles with a core of crème de cassis , baked plums and mulberries. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid backbone of firm, velvety tannins and really compelling earthy undertones to all that decadent black fruit, finishing long and layered. 330 cases were made. 95 points

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is a powerful, dark wine. Blackberry jam, gravel, espresso, sage and charcoal embers all give the Calistoga a real sense of brooding intensity and gravitas. All of the Rivers-Marie Cabernets are big wines. The Calistoga Cabernet is the most overly ripe of them. For my palate, it is on the edge of too much. The Calistoga Cabernet is a blend from two blocks at Larkmead. 91 points