2018 Hourglass "Blueline Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline is so sensual, so elegant, and yet it has plenty of depth. Bright acids and underlying veins of tannin give shape to this super-refined, nuanced Cabernet Sauvignon. Moderate levels of ripeness and the personality of the long growing season really come through. The 2018 is one of the classiest wines I have ever tasted here. In a word: impressive. (AG)” (01/2021)

“The 2018 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline Estate shows the classic, more focused, elegant – yet also concentrated – style of the vintage brilliantly. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as killer notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, graphite, and noticeable minerality, it's medium to full-bodied and has terrific purity of fruit, plenty of tannins, and a great, great finish. It's tight, backward, and in need of 2-4 years of bottle age, but this classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon will have 2-3 decades of longevity.” (01/2021)

“A firm, tight Napa red with blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. The focused, polished tannins are tense and driven, giving the wine nice length.” (01/2021)

“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline Estate charges out of the gate with bold crème de cassis, plum preserves and Black Forest cake scents plus suggestions of underbrush, pencil lead, tobacco leaf and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers lovely tension to the juicy black fruit layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and finishing on a lingering mineral note. (LPB) 94+” (02/2021)

“Aromas here perfectly balance charred-oak aromas with those of fresh purple flowers and structured red fruits. More lush and fleshy on the palate than the Hourglass Estate bottling, but with a similarly angular quality to the tannins. In need of softening up to come into its own, a well-made expression nonetheless. (ML)” (10/2020)

“Nice character, here, with a flicker of bay leaf to start, but the fruit catches up and takes over, offering waves of cassis, crushed plum and blueberry reduction flavors. The finish is inlaid with a graphite spine, while touches of cocoa and tobacco drape over the fruit. (JM)” (06/2021)