2013 Anakota "Helena Dakota" Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota (445 cases) is absolutely magnificent. Opaque black/purple in color, it comes across like a Château Montrose from a great vintage – a very earthy St.-Estèphe-inspired wine with the essence of loamy soil and crushed rocks interwoven with blackberry and cassis fruit. Some oak makes an appearance, but it is pushed to the background by the extravagance and enormous body and extract of this wine of phenomenal intensity. This is a classic Pierre Seillan style of wine meant for 25-40 years of cellaring. (RP)” (10/2015)

“This Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the 12.4 Helena Dakota Vineyard in the Knights Valley, which is situated at an elevation of 750ft and is influenced by the westerly winds that pass through a large cold pond and slow the ripening of the grapes. The resultant wine is a total beauty, instantly bursting with a wonderful range of complex aromatics beginning with blackberries and dark currants woven together with roasted coffee, loam, spices, cocoa powder and a lovely mix of savory nuances all taking shape. On the palate this displays a gorgeous full-bodied texture, with outstanding overall structure, balance and depth. The tannins are beautifully polished, making for an absolutely fantastic mouthfeel, which leads up to the long, supple finish. I absolutely love the Helena Dakota in this vintage, and while it is already showing incredibly well, expect this to continue to thrive in the cellar for many years. (JD)” (01/2018)