2019 Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Expedition is a blend from vineyards on Atlas Peak and the lower slopes of the Soda Canyon property near the Silverado Trail. A big wine, the Expedition offers up an exciting mélange of dark fruit, crushed rocks, game, licorice and scorched earth. Imposing tannins need time to soften, but the 2019 seems to have the balance to allow that to happen. (AG)

A ripe and juicy red with notes of blackcurrants, vanilla, graphite and sage. Full-bodied and dry with delicious fruit and bright acidity. Big and polished tannin structure and long mineral finish.

This is the second vintage from Seven Apart—a blend coming from Stag's Ridge vineyard, located up on Atlas Peak, and Base Camp vineyard, located seven miles down the mountain (hence the name). The winemaker here is Andy Erickson, formerly at Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate and currently also consulting winemaker at Dalla Valle (among others). The upper vineyard (Stag's Ridge) is planted to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Seven miles down the road, where Soda Canyon Road meets the Silverado Trail, is the four-acre Base Camp vineyard, planted in the mid-1990s to Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Base Camp was planted in 1994 and 1998. Opaque purple-black in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Expedition erupts from the glass with explosive scents of boysenberry preserves, blueberry pie and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of molten chocolate, licorice, tar and violets, with a waft of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is full-on rich and decadent, exuding layer upon layer of opulent black and blue fruit preserves with bags of exotic spice accents and a long, fragrant finish. Pure hedonism. It is tantalizingly delicious right now, but give it 3-4 years in bottle to blow off that puppy fat, and drink it over the next 25 years+.