95pts Jeb Dunnuck

From the producer's estate vineyard on the north-eastern side of the valley, this is an earthy, elegant and classically structured wine, 100% varietal and aged 22 months in entirely new French oak. Cedar, pencil shavings and cassis combine around a core of structured tannin and powerful length.

95pts Wine Enthusiast

Soft, velvety cabernet with lots of blackcurrant and chocolate character and some citrus undertones. Rather plush. Full-bodied. Round texture and an opulent finish. Drink in 2022.

93pts James Suckling

Loads of spiced red and black fruits, mulled cherries, cedarwood, chocolate, and candied violet notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard, and this full-bodied beauty has a rounded, expansive texture as well as beautifully polished, silky tannins. This is a rockingly good Cabernet with plenty of richness and depth (it's no lightweight) yet I love its overall balance as well as its purity. It should evolve for 15-20 years with no issues.

Winemaker Notes

The 2018 Cloudy’s is loaded with blue fruit, herbs and and rocky earth tones. It is a balanced wine with generous fruit and a very nice bouquet of violets and earth. This wine should age very well over the coming decades. 

Vineyard Notes

In 1999 we planted Cloudy’s vineyard. It sits on the steepest part of our estate, hidden high up in the Vaca Mountains. The vines work overtime, focusing all their energy on ripening the fruit. The extended and balanced 2018 growing season allowed us to pick grapes with fully matured, though not overripe, flavors.