Keplinger‘Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A mere 80 cases were made of this incredible new offering. 2018 marks the first year that winemaker/vintner, Helen Keplinger has been able to get fruit from the renowned Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard site. Most know of the Keplinger brand for their Rhone-style Reds, but she has been making Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1999 vintage, first as assistant winemaker at Paradigm Winery and then as winemaker for Kenzo Estate, Bryant Family Vineyard, Kerr Cellars, and Grace Family Vineyard. The 2018 Keplinger Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from two special blocks at the Phillips’ Ranch. The mother block of the Eisele clone, the budwood for which was given by Bart Araujo to Bruce Phillips, is on a steep, east-facing slope. The second block is on a bench of rhyolitic deposits. As winemaker Helen explains, "These two blocks blend together seamlessly in our 2018 Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose exhibits dark and beguiling aromas of incense, black licorice, blackberry, boysenberry, cassis bud, violets, wet earth, and baker’s chocolate. The incredibly silky entry opens to a broad mid-palate with flavors of cassis, cassis bud, black licorice, and white flowers, all underpinned by ultra-fine tannins through to the lengthy finish. This is a deft convergence of power, intensity, purity, and elegance in our first vintage."