Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019. Meadowcroft

Tom Meadowcroft's passion for wine was finally realized when he worked the harvest in Bordeaux in 1979. That led him to earning degrees from UC Davis and Napa College in Viticulture and Enology as well as major experience in vineyard management and grape growing.

Tom realized early on the wines are made in the vineyard and that the only way to make great wine is with great grapes. So, he concentrated on the grapes and hired Bulgarian-born Peter Kirklov, as his winemaker. Peter's experience in drawing out myriad flavors from many obscure grapes gave him a more holistic approach to working with Cabernet Sauvignon, which was exactly what Tom Meadowcroft was looking for.

This powerful expression of the grape was sourced from none other than Napa Valley, known for deep, intense flavor and a tannic backbone. It all comes together here with classic French oak aging and minimal intervention. The deep, almost opaque color hints of the dense flavors to come. You are immediately drawn into an amazing swirl of scents from black plum and black cherry to cedar, brioche toast and dark chocolate.

In the mouth it sports all the promise of the nose, but adds cassis and cranberry along with hints of saddle leather and spice. This is a wine of such magnitude and depth that it could shine as easily with a medium rare prime rib as with steak Diane or a Santa Maria Tri-Tip lathered with garlic and rosemary.

Reviews