99pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, the opaque purple-black colored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon ERA explodes with bombastic scents of crème de cassis, blueberry compote, chocolate-covered cherries and mulberries plus touches of spice cake, smoked meats, cedar chest and tar with a compelling waft of licorice. Full-bodied, decadently fruited and heady on the palate, it delivers loads of delicate savory and earth nuances among the packed black fruit layers, supported by super firm, super ripe tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with a whole firework display of minerals and spices.
99pts Jeb Dunnuck
Beautiful notes of pure crème de cassis and darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, smoke tobacco, and toasty oak give way to a full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Cabernet with lots of underlying structure, rock star concentration, and the tight, inward, yet impressive style that's common in 2018. Showing more and more minerality with time in the glass, it shuts down relatively quickly and is a wine for the long haul. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years, if not longer, and it should evolve for 30+ years or more.
95pts Vinous
The 2018 Red Wine ERA is packed with inky dark red fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice, rose petal and menthol. Even with all of its intensity and extraction, the 2018 retains a good bit of freshness. I have to say, though, the extra-heavy bottle is shockingly out of touch for today's world and totally unnecessary.
95pts James Suckling
A dense, tight cabernet with blue fruit, blackberries and hints of stones. It’s full-bodied and tight with firm tannins and a flavorful finish. This needs some time to come together, but already has beautiful length. Try after 2022." (12/2020)
Winemaker Notes
Explosion of cassis, peaches, cherries, raspberry jam, violet, lavender, vanilla beans, and cotton candy. Soft entrance evolving on a lush but full-bodied midpalate, lingering on dense but granular tannins with a
touch of tulip, plum, cassis, elderberry, cherry liquor finishing with iris, pomegranate
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec