Cervantes Family Vineyards Blacktail Red 2018

"We don't have anything in mind about what the final blend will be each year," winemaker Andy Erickson said about this Blacktail blend. "We want to create something that is unique to the place this year." The 2018 Blacktail Proprietary Red Blend MMXIII is composed of 27% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 23% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with flamboyant blue fruits, plum preserves and black cherry compote notes, with hints of rose oil, Indian spices, camphor and pencil lead plus a waft of truffles. The intense, full-bodied palate delivers wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins with beautiful poise, leading to a long floral finish. Amazing wine!

More of a red blend, the 2018 Proprietary Blend Blacktail is 27% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 23% Petite Sirah, and 4% Petit Verdot. It has a similar purple hue to go with lively notes of red, black, and blue fruits intermixed with plenty of leafy herbs, earth, violets, and spice-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and elegant on the palate, with a lively texture, it carries plenty of richness yet also has a notable spine of tannins and acidity. Short-term cellaring is the name of the game here, but it's definitely more accessible than the Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2018 Blacktail is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, an unusual combination that works so well here. Black cherry, plum, scorched earth, licorice, gravel and savory herbs are all front and center. This potent, savory wine has a lot of character.