2017 Zakin Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2017 Zakin Estate is just as impressive as it was last year from barrel. Rich, ample and creamy, the 2017 possesses tremendous depth and resonance that carries through all the way to the finish. Super-ripe red cherry fruit, pomegranate, mint, spice and blood orange are some of the many aromas that round out this super-expressive wine. Sweet floral notes brighten up the finish.

The Zakin 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes from just below Cakebread's Dancing Bear vineyard and just above Dana's Lotus vineyard. It contains 8% Cabernet Franc and was aged 20 months in 87% new French Taransaud, Ermitage and Sylvain barrels. Very deep purple-garnet colored, it gives up expressive notes of baked blackberries, black cherry compote, stewed plums and balsamic with hints of sautéed herbs, rose hip tea and damp soil with a waft of raspberry leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate is very light on its feet with lovely freshness and fine-grained, ripe tannins, finishing long and perfumed. 274 cases were produced and proceeds of this wine will be donated to the St. Helena fire department.

Zakin's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is inky, deep and powerful. It is also surprisingly primary and unevolved at this stage, which is something I saw with a number of 2017s. Even so, the wine's poise and overall balance point to another strong vintage for this small Howell Mountain estate.