2018 Pied à Terre Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: After the difficulties of 2017 and the unique challenges of the 5 preceding vintages, the 2018 growing season brought a return to normalcy. Weather was consistent, mostly dry and on the cool side. Untroubled by prolonged heat spells, the growing season was the longest since at least 2012. A warm February slid into a cool spring, meaning bloom lasted longer than it had in recent years—but fruit-set was excellent. This set the pace for the grape growing season to continue ripening at a decelerated pace. Very little rain or wind during the May flowering period let to a generous cluster count. Summer temperatures were moderate with fewer heat spikes than in recent years. August was very much “like the old days”— foggy, cool mornings with the sun not emerging until lunchtime. The only real weather concerns of the entire vintage were a heat spike in June during fruit set and a little rain in late September. The long hang-time brought excellent flavor development, without over-ripeness as the berries retained high acidity and reached full phenolic maturity. The sugar levels were moderate as well.

The fruit benefitted from the long growing season: the tannins were sweet, the color vibrant / intense and the aromas were very complex. 2018 was an exceptional, old school, vintage.