2018 Ulysses Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
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Mainly C abernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot and C abernet Franc . See the Ulysses vertical below. Christian Moueix’s second vineyard after Dominus, just over the border from Yountville. Edouard Moueix explained that his father studied at UC Davis in 1968 and 1969. In 1983 ‘he had the chance to invest in Napanook [which became Dominus] one mile south of Ulysses. In 2008 he was able to buy this parcel from Swanson.’ The first vintage was not until 2012 because considerable replanting was needed. Dry farmed, as at Dominus, so a different, much deeper, root system from irrigated vineyards evolves. ‘The first few vintages were therefore unrepresentative.’ It’s a 40-acre estate on gravel with a little clay-loam. In charge is Tod Mostero, whose aim is to express freshness. The estate is organic (‘which is much easier than in Bordeaux!’ according to Moueix). 50% new oak. Early draining of tanks to get elements from the skins but not seeds. Yields are 2.5 – 3 tons/acre and 1,300 cases are made. Quite a complex nose. Distinctive and much drier than most other Oakville Cabs. Sappy and the most digestible of the wines. Drier even than Opus One! Needs time. (JR)
Punteggi della critica
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
Altre recensioni e punteggi
Late, dry season with morning fog in August and September. Storm interrupted picking in early October. Harvest from 26 September but mainly in the second week of October. 1,300 cases produced. Mid, not dense, garnet. Fragrant. Sleek and fresh. Everything in its place for a glorious future. Racy and this actually tastes transparent, and expressive! Long. (JR)
Just about pure perfection and the finest wine I've tasted from this address, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon yet includes smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all from a site just north of Dominus. This deep, inky hued beauty offers up a beautiful, full-bodied, richly textured, and incredibly concentrated style that carries ample black and blue fruit as well as notes of crushed stone, scorched earth, graphite, and lead pencil. It has the focused, structured style of the 2018 vintage and is going to benefit from 4-6 years (if not a decade) of bottle age and will be a 30+ year wine.
The current-release 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows more cherries and bay leaf on the nose than prior vintages. There's still a solid framework of cedar, loam and cassis, hints of mocha and licorice, but there's also a bit more freshness and lift. It's medium to full-bodied and densely concentrated yet silky and finessed, with a long, elegant finish.