It is becoming clearer what a perfect growing season in the Napa Valley looks like, and the 2018 vintage did not disappoint. A relatively dry winter was accompanied by a few storms in March and April that finished filling the soils, allowing the canopies to grow slowly with the mild spring. Weather during bloom was ideal with ample sun and warmth, leading into a summer of moderate temperatures, which allowed the vines to grow a complete canopy and then shift focus to the fruit. After a small crop in 2017, we were happy to see a wonderfully balanced and full crop going into the harvest season, which began in mid-September for the Cabernet Sauvignon. A dry fall allowed us to pick selectively and unhurriedly, finishing the season in the middle of October.
The 2018 Crossroads Cabernet Sauvignon will be your confidante, companion, better yet, your new best friend. The aromas of this wine are familiar, notes of bay laurel that remind you of making homemade tomato sauce or the sweet baked spices of mixed berry pies. On the palate, you find a balance of freshness and complexity. At first taste, you are hit with freshly picked blackberries that are warm, juicy, and satisfying, followed up by an earthy and irony tannin presence that is approachable, and reminds you of the red dirt it comes from as it lingers on the finish. Whether you are enjoying this wine with your family pizza night or on an evening stroll as the sun is setting, you will never be disappointed.