96
Points
Technical info
Alcohol
15.1%
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Napa
Vintage
The 2018 vintage proved to be of high quality and produced above average yields. The year began with abundant rainfall throughout the winter. Spring weather was mild, with bud break and flowering occurring later than usual but under ideal conditions. This resulted in plentiful and an even fruit set throughout the growing season. Summer brought generous sunshine days along with the typical cool, marine influenced evenings and early mornings. The relatively mild summer, with no major heat spikes, created near-ideal conditions to allow the grapes generous hang time to achieve optimum flavor complexity and a gradual rise in sugar level.
Vineyards
Howell Mountain rises just to the northeast of Beringer's winery in St. Helena, and Bancroft Ranch lies at an elevation of 1,800 feet on the western slope of the mountain. The soil here—gritty white tuff of volcanic origin—is shallow, infertile and extremely well drained. The vines produce small, intensely flavored berries with powerful, concentrated fruit flavors and thick skins that yield robust tannins. Bancroft's forward fruit demonstrates the classic Cabernet flavor of ripe, sweet black currant. The 2018 Bancroft Ranch aged 21 months in French oak barrels. Careful attention is paid to vineyard blocks, which are kept separate and vinified with a goal of extracting maximum flavor.
