2018 Aviara Prana Cabernet Sauvignon Block M5

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 88 points

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  2/4/2024 - MK9786 Likes this wine: 91 Points

  While not the most complex of Cabs, it certainly is nice to drink after a long decant. The initial acidity recedes into the background and the fruit becomes more prominent. Works well with weeknight dinners.

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  1/25/2024 - Nati Winos Likes this wine:

  Really good.

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  7/16/2023 - Nati Winos Likes this wine:

  Very good. Still a little tight.

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  8/7/2021 - Nati Winos Likes this wine:

  Was almost afraid to drink after reading the previous comments. We actually enjoyed this one. Cherry, Mocha, baking spice, some herbs or an earthyness. Warm and to the point, with a nice long finish. Almost a pop n pour, maybe 15 minutes. Glad we bought 6 to see how this develops over the years.

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  1/10/2021 - GQG wrote: 88 Points

  This wine caught my eye because it's sourced from the famous M5 block of Stagecoach. The vineyard's previous owner Jan Krupp said, "[My favorite] might be the flagship M5, which takes its name from [my] favorite block of Stagecoach cabernet sauvignon. It’s our most complex block. The wines age forever. Of all of [them] this one sets my heart on fire."
  
  Turns out in 2017 the Krupp brothers sold the Stagecoach Vineyard to Gallo so the 2016 flagship Krupp M5 Cab was their last vintage. This producer apparently got some of the 2018 M5 block fruit from Gallo.
  
  I was hoping for a great QPR deal but as we all know the vintage and fruit source do not by themselves determine the quality of the final product. This wine is a perfect example. Although I've not had the 2016 Krupp M5 Cab, the reviews of it could not be more different from this 2018 that I drank.
  
  At opening, a reticent nose is followed by a ruby red colored, thin-bodied palate of red fruit. It was fresh and had grip but it was austere and out of balance and had a very linear trajectory with a short finish. No heaviness or over-ripe issues but no complexity either. Maybe the best way I could describe its taste is to suggest this wine may have come from a highly filtered last forceful press of the grapes after all the free-run juice and light pressings went elsewhere. I have no idea what sort of barrels were used for ageing and for how long. Oak/mocha/vanilla/dill/smoke/wood/char notes were not strong.
  
  After 2 hours in a decanter the fruit got a bit darker and it was less unbalanced but complexity never developed. I've had much better wines at half the $35 cost. Maybe it'll fill out a bit over the next few years...

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