NAPA CABERNET 2018
Certified sommelier Matthew Luczy is Decanter’s California correspondent. He writes a column on Decanter Premium every other Friday
The 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage is one of the finest of the past two decades, absent of the challenges that plagued previous years, such as destructive wildfires, drought, low yields and heatwaves. The best wines show control, poise and stylistic delineation between vineyards, and highlight individual characteristics of each appellation – however, this is still a vintage in which to read the reviews and buy with care.
When compared to recent years, 2018 is most synonymous with the highly acclaimed 2016. ‘There were a lot of synergies in both the growing season and the wines,’ explains Chris Carpenter, winemaker for Cardinale, La Jota, Lokoya and Mt Brave, all part of the large Jackson Family Wines portfolio. ‘They have a lot of the same energy, expression and life.’
In terms of weather, ‘slow’
