2018 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

Cabernet Sauvignon

Neecies Likes this wine: 98 points

August 4, 2021 - "Like it" just isn't strong enough. This is one of the most captivating young Napa cabernets I can remember having--impeccable balance and sophistication without an overload of oak or other manipulations. It earns the scores. Btw, I read thru all the notes here before deciding how to prep it and decided to err on the side of a splash decant. The result of pouring off (yes there was some sediment) 80% of it, filtering the remainder then adding all back to the cleaned bottle and recorking about two hours before service was perfect. The wine was fresh and accessible, and we drank it over two hours without the tannins clamping down. Outstanding.

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Mark1npt commented:

8/4/21, 2:42 PM - Good to know! Thanks for your notes on this wine. Cheers!
KillerJones commented:

8/4/21, 5:55 PM - ...and to think it has decades to go, right? Nice to see them rebound after the previous vintage.

I liked how you prepped for this - something about 'big' bottles that makes us do this.

Sediment? I would not have guessed that.
Neecies commented:

8/5/21, 5:16 AM - Cool thing was pouring this for my neighbor in return for his sharing the $600 Dana cabs with us a few weeks ago. I'm pretty sure he liked this better, or at the very least he likes two of these for less than the price of one of those.
Mark1npt commented:

8/5/21, 5:27 AM - Even if the wine was not as good as the Dana, the experience far overshadowed it!
Neecies commented:

8/5/21, 5:31 AM - And hey, and this one came with my cooking! (Prime filet mignons in a brandy-cambezola pan sauce on potato galette.)
Mark1npt commented:

8/6/21, 12:14 PM - Neecies.....that sounds like an awesome pairing! I'm drooling........
sachsen commented:

9/14/21, 10:30 PM - When was this initially released? I just got the offer notice today.

Glad to hear that is showed so well.
Neecies commented:

9/15/21, 11:09 AM - Ron, I'm embarrassed--I put these in my inventory incorrectly. They're '16s.