92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Matured in 100% new French oak, the current release 2018 Cook's Flat Reserve is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc. There are fewer than 200 cases of this excellent wine, which combines soft oaky and mossy nuances with hints of sage and bay leaf, and it underscores those with a solid base of cassis fruit. It's medium to full-bodied, softly tannic and long on the finish.

Winemaker Notes

The 13% Cabernet Franc makes itself felt right from the start. The wine has a pronounced dark fruit aroma with an unmistakable suggestion of roses, tobacco, cassis and violets, plus potent hints of black and white pepper and turmeric. Smith-Madrone origin. It has a lovely silky texture on top of a fruity and youthful mid-palate. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. This, then, leads into a lip-smacking finish of soft tannins and gentle acidity. A worthy Cook’s Flat Reserve in every way.

Cook’s Flat Reserve represents our uncompromising pursuit of perfection in winemaking. Each bottle is numbered and tissue wrapped with a copy of the U.S. Land Office patent which was signed by President Chester A. Arthur in 1884, granting ownership of the land to George Cook. That original document hangs in the winery and is an important part of our history. We chose this name in tribute to George Cook, the first owner of the property and the person who originally planted the vines here in the 1880s.