2017 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon Iridium

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Iridium comes from three Napa vineyards this year: Meg's vineyard in Wooden Valley, Clairmore (by Lake Hennessey) and Frediani vineyard. It is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 18 months in oak: 91% French and 9% Hungarian (95% new). The nose is a little youthfully mute to begin, soon unfurling to reveal pure, fragrant cassis, Black Forest cake and black raspberry scents with nuances of charcoal, new leather, unsmoked cigars and cedar chest. The concentrated, robust, full-bodied palate has a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness supporting the black fruit layers, finishing on a provocative minerally note. 430 cases were made plus 50 cases of magnums.