2021 Carter Cabernet Sauvignon

A blended wine whose exact composition varies a bit from year to year, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter is primarily from the Weitz Vineyard (also known as Leopoldina), with some barrels of Beckstoffer-sourced fruit that didn't work in the single-vineyard offerings. Scents of black cherries, thyme and dusty earth mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky, ending with mouthwatering freshness and ample length. Consultant Russell Bevan presented the Carter Cellars wines at his private residence, alongside a bevy of other wines he works on. There are a couple of additions to the lineup at Carter. For collectors, there is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Bourne Vineyard (between Dr. Crane and Las Piedras in Saint Helena), while for folks who want to try a Carter red for under a C-note, there is a new red blend called The Haze. As I noted last time I reported on Carter Cellars, proprietor Mark Carter has always managed to find top talent to help fashion the wines (Nils Venge, Jeff Fontella, Mike Smith), and this continues under Bevan.