Detail
The 2018 vintage came as a reprieve from the challenging 2017 growing season. A relatively dry winter was accompanied by a few storms in March and April, which finished filling the soils, allowing the canopies to grow slowly with the mild spring. Weather during bloom was ideal with ample sun and warmth, leading into a summer of moderate temperatures, allowing the vines to grow a complete canopy and then shift focus to the fruit. After a small crop in 2017, we were happy to see a precisely balanced and full crop going into the harvest season. Harvest began in mid-September with the first pick of Cabernet Sauvignon on the northern alluvial fan, continuing through mid-October with the final pick of Cabernet Sauvignon from the core stone volcanic soils of our Estate. The 2018 Rudd Oakville Estate Red has a stunning magenta and youthful purple hue. The wines fragrance is perfumed, poised, and elegant. The more traditional black cherry and cassis fruit that one finds in this wine are complemented by intriguing green olive, cigar leaf, and violet floral components that we find throughout our 2018 vintage wines. Upon the first sip, the bright and luscious black cherry and plum notes consume the palate. Threaded through those fruit components are an inviting combination of cocoa nib and dried rosemary, elevating the wines complexity and power as the wine builds. While the tannins are persistent and firm, the slate-like texture of this wine offers a smooth and elegant finish. While showing well at the time of release, this wine has plenty of time to develop and age gracefully over the next 15-20 years.
