96pts The Wine Independent

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. It requires a good amount of swirling to bring out youthful scents of black and red cherries, blackcurrant pastilles, and fresh blackberries, leading to hints of cardamom, licorice, and rose oil. The full-bodied palate is energetic and refreshing, with shimmery black fruits and a fine-grained texture, finishing long and lifted.

96pts International Wine Report

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is sensational. It begins with incredibly perfumed aromas of sweet blueberries and dark currents, which are laced with violets, mocha, crushed gravel, licorice, sage and exotic spices all emerging beautifully from the glass. On the palate this offers incredible full bodied richness, with a gorgeous layered texture that is remarkably well-structured. It goes on to impress as it displays incredible freshness and purity as well as excellent concentration and depth, as delicious flavors of ripe dark fruit flavors resonate through the long polished finish. While this is simply delicious today, the tannins still need a bit more time to soften up, there is no doubt this should have an incredibly bright future ahead.

95pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The very deep purple-black colored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec and 1% Merlot. It opens with vibrant fresh blackberry, cassis and redcurrant jelly scents with wafts of pencil lead, tar and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of bright, crunchy red and black fruits, supported by grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and earthy.

95pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, and the balance Malbec and Merlot. Beautiful crème de cassis, blueberries, flowers, cedarwood, tobacco, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless texture, building tannins, and a great finish. This rich, powerful 2018 has the vintage's purity and freshness, stunning overall balance, and the class to evolve for 20 years or more.

93pts Wine Enthusiast - Cellar Selection

With thick tannins and a big style on offer, this wine spent 23 months in barrel and is undeniably opulent, concentrated and generous in oak. Black fruit dominates around secondary notes of dried herb, clove and pleasant layers of earth. With structure and complexity, it should do well in the cellar; enjoy best 2028 through 2038. 

92pts James Suckling

Blackberries, cocoa, dried herbs and crushed gravel. It’s medium-bodied with fine, powdery tannins. Concentrated and focused. Try from 2021.

Vinous

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is an attractive, easygoing wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Ripe dark plum, chocolate, spice and new oak open nicely in the glass. The only thing the 2018 lacks is mid-palate depth. As it is, the 2018 comes across as a bit light.

About the Wine

This elegant powerhouse hails from highly-esteemed, volcanic Napa areas such as the Pritchard Hill area, Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, and Hertelendy's very own Rockwell Ridge estate vineyard (35 feet below Howell Mountain). Barrel aged 23 months in 90% New French and Hungarian Oak.

Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec, 1% Merlot