CornellEstate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Led by consulting winemaker Francoise Peschon and winemaker/viticulturist Elizabeth Tangney, this property is really hitting its stride now. Cornell Vineyards is in the Mayacamas Range just west of the Spring Mountain District. It’s a microcosm of almost absurd geological diversity. Derived from ancient seabeds and volcanoes, the colorful soils are comprised of volcanic rock, sandstone, shale, cobblestone, and loamy clay. This diversity and the rolling terrain led to the identification of 20 distinct blocks, each bearing a different combination of variety, clone, and rootstock. “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Commitment is dazzling. Elegant, deep and wonderfully sophisticated, the 2018 is plush, deep and beautifully layered from start to finish. Black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and spice all meld together. The tannins are present, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of fruit. An extra year of oak adds textural richness while softening some of the contours that these wines can show in their youth.” 98 Points, Vinous. We recently visited Cornell Vineyards and tasted this newest offering. It is gorgeous and by far their best vintage yet. They sustained major fire damage on the peripheral parts of the property but are determined to rebuild and have been doing just that since the 2020 wildfires.