MacDonald Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
(Oakville, CA) - [JD 99] [VM 97+]

Their Story:

In 1954, our family planted the first vines on the property since Prohibition.  For 60 years the grapes were sold exclusively to Robert Mondavi, based on a handshake, and became the core of his Reserve and early Opus One bottlings.  Robert Mondavi referred to our grandparents as "the best grape-growers in the Nampa Valley" and when he and our great-uncle resurrected the property's historic name, our family was included as the only growers to be part of the Robert Mondavi To-Kalon Vineyard.

The Land:

Located in the fabled Oakville benchlands, at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, our fifteen-acres under vine sits on the rockiest outcrop othe historic estate.  The well-drained alluvial gravels allow roots to tap deep into the earth, capturing a characteristic sense of place in each bottle.  Through generations of family stewardship, our Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of the oldest remaining plantings in the Napa Valley.  We farm these vines with our own hands and the attention to detail taught to us by our grandfather.

Ratings and Reviews:

99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:

"Flirting with perfection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from this tiny family estate shows the pure, elegant, yet concentrated style of this vintage to a T. Darker currants, cassis, olives, violets, and spring flower notes all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated, ultra-classic, flawlessly balanced Cabernet. The tannins are present yet polished, it has wonderfully integrated acidity, and is one of those wines that keeps you coming back to the glass. Count yourself lucky if you’re able to snag any bottles. It will ideally be given 4-6 years of bottle age and it’s going to evolve for 20-25 years or more. (Drink between 2025-2052)" - Jeb Dunnuck (Jan 2021)

95+ Points - Vinous Media:

"The 2018 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon is positively stellar. Crème de cassis, blueberry, lavender, graphite, spice, sage and licorice all open effortlessly in the glass. At this stage, the 2018 reminds me of the 2012 in its mid-weight structure, but with darker fruit and a more somber personality. Like the 2012 has, I expect the 2018 will flesh out in the middle over the next handful of years. It is a super-impressive wine with a bright, bright future that only slightly misses the thrilling heights of some previous editions. Then again, brothers Graeme and Alex MacDonald have set a very high bar since they started bottling their wine a little more than a decade ago. (Drink between 2026-2043)". -  Antonio Galloni (Jan 2021)