WINEMAKER NOTES:
Cherry and spice notes go from aroma to palate all the way through the long, long finish. The wine is deeply structured with fine tannins present everywhere you taste. The word ‘gracious’ comes to mind; the wine is open for business right now, elegant in presentation and thoroughly enjoyable. Don’t drink all your bottles too soon though, this Ciel du Cheval will only improve for 15+ years. This vintage has all the things that have made Ciel such a delight to work with for the past twenty years – a fantastic final vintage for our work with Ciel.
TASTING NOTES:
A blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot and 8% Merlot, the 2018 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard displays a deep ruby color at its core with a dark magenta rim. Aromas of dusty black cherry skin, juicy plum and soft savory herbs sway out of the glass with a soft rustic element of worn leather and wilted lavender. Medium to full-bodied, the blend has a focused and balanced palate offering up layers of complexity and fine-grained tannins. Ending with a food-friendly finish, the blend will have no challenges lasting for a decade.
- Wine Advocate, 92 pts.
This wine, which will be the winery's last from this vineyard as it focuses on estate wines going forward, is a true Bordeaux style blend: 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. The aromas are reserved, with notes of cherry, scorched earth and spice. Herb and cherry flavors follow. The structure this winery is known for is there in abundance. Best after 2027. Sean P. Sullivan
- Wine Enthusiast, 93 pts.
