2018 Scarecrow M. Etain

The 2018 M. Étain is another gem of a wine, and while it’s billed as a second wine of Scarecrow, it has a style all its own. The 2018 is reminiscent of a great Saint-Julien, with its purity and elegance paired with textbook Cabernet notes of crème de cassis, crushed violets, earth, and liquid rock-like minerality. It’s just as gorgeous on the palate and has a full-bodied, seamless, ultra-pure texture, ripe yet present tannins, and a great finish. As with the Grand Vin, it offers pleasure today but is going to be better with 3-5 years of bottle age. You can’t go wrong with either of these releases from Scarecrow, and this is another brilliant release from winemaker Celia Welch.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Étain is a powerful, muscular wine that speaks with booming authority. Blackberry, gravel, chocolate, spice and lavender are some of the many aromas and flavors that saturate the palate. Far from an easygoing 2018, the M. Étain is a brooding Cabernet that needs time in bottle to allow the formidable tannins to soften. It remains one of the most distinctive wines made in Nape Valley. Dollops of Merlot and Malbec from the back of the property round out the blend. (AG)

The 2018 M. Étain is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 4% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with expressive notes of crème de cassis, baked plums, wild blueberries and tilled soil with loads of exotic spice and fruitcake accents. Full-bodied, the palate is as rich as it is vibrant and refreshing, featuring approachable, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy. 2,400 cases were made.