2017 Fairchild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 Perrarus Block 3 Tench Vineyard

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 comes from a world class site just beside Screaming Eagle and is all Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 22 months in new French oak. Stunning blackcurrants, iron, savory spices, and baking chocolate notes all give way to a complex, elegant, seamless red that has ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, flawless balance, and a great finish. It shows the tighter, more linear style of the vintage yet is just beautifully balanced, has notable purity of fruit, and is up with the top wines in the vintage.

The 2017 Stone No. 3 is another stellar wine in this range from Larry Fairchild. Stones No. 3 emerges from Tench, an Oakville site that often yields rich, potent Cabernets, impresses with its tremendous energy and aromatic presence - two qualities that aren't often found here. Raspberry jam, mint, white flowers and sweet spice infuse the 2017 with tremendous freshness as well as nuance. The 2017 is stunning. It just needs time in bottle to be at its very best.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 comes from Oakville and aged 22 months in new French oak. Very deep purple-black colored, it has a wonderfully fragrant nose of wilted roses, lilacs and fertile soil over a core of black currant cordial, plum preserves and boysenberries plus nuances of underbrush and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with earth and mineral-laced black fruit, with firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and layered. 350 cases produced.