2018 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

The “Artist Series” from Pied a Terre was created to offer a barrel-selection of the finest barrels / wine. The inaugural vintage was 2018. 2018 was our best vintage to date! We selected the 4 best barrels for this blend. Only 100 cases! were bottled. The wines are exceptional. I am so proud to offer the 2018 “Artist Series” – it is a phenomenal wine!

2018 brought moderate temperatures and a long growing season, leading to relaxed picking and excellent, classic wines – unlike the stress of 2017 which brought scorching temperatures and wildfires.

Despite a warm February, the 2018 growing season started off cooler than the past few vintages. A cool spring meant bloom lasted longer than usual, and fruit set was very good in almost every vineyard site.

Summer temperatures were moderate with fewer heat spikes than in recent years; veraison started later as well. As a result, harvest started two to three weeks later than in recent years, but our winemaker, Clay Mauritson, emphasized that 2018 was a more historically typical vintage: “Harvest stared ‘later’ but was really ‘normal’ compared to the previous four years. And yields were what they used to be…”

The 2018 Cabernets are the best wines we have made to date. They are truly world-class wines! The weather being as mild was it was allowed for excellent development of phenolics and flavors concomitant with retention of great acidity. The wines are already showing great structure and concentration without being overripe – like wines that used to be made in California!

Tasting Notes: Great density and concentration on the palate. Flavors and aromas of black cherry, cassis, caramel and chocolate. The wine has unending length and complexity. Our best wine to date! Only 100 cases produced.