92pts Jeb Dunnuck

Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (there are small amounts of Sangiovese and Malbec), the 2022 Red Blend Rb is another solid barrel sample that will be a great value. Red and black fruits, flowers, spice, and leather notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a beautifully layered mouthfeel, fine tannins, and great finish.

92pts James Suckling

Blackcurrants, cocoa, violets and plums on the nose of this polished and juicy red. It’s full-bodied and nicely filled with dark, ripe fruit. Powdery tannins. 45% cabernet sauvignon, 43% merlot, 10% malbec and 2% sangiovese. Delicious already, but can hold.

Winemaker Notes

New beginnings. Provocative moment. Expressive, complex, bright, juicy, and forward in place... dark, big and with a lively disposition. Black plum, black currant, dried blueberry intertwined and layered with black licorice, dark chocolate, pipe tobacco with a touch of amaro, black tea and marzipan... delightful, exciting, and just truly awesome.

Blend : 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 2% Sangiovese | 100% whole berry fermentation in stainless steel tank | 35 days on skins | 10 months barrel aged in 30% new French oak barriques

Winery Notes

The original thought was to be a one wine brand, with a single minded vision to produce the best value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon in America. How do you go about this? Traditional winemaking. Natural fermentations. Barrel-aging. Plus, bottling unfiltered and unfined. In essence, making the wines in small batch winemaking integrity, but doing so on a larger scale. The wine is black. The label definitively says, "This is Cabernet Sauvignon." With the CS, you know who made this wine: Charles Smith. There is also the single vineyard, single expression, Bordeaux varietals (ex: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) produced in very limited quantities. Let's not to forget, the single vineyard Loire-style Substance Sauvignon Blanc. Wines of Substance illustrates Charles’ philosophy of producing exceptional wines to be enjoyed by everyone around the globe.