Cardano Estate 1913 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018

The 2018 vintage of Napa Cabernet continues to impress us in ways we could not imagine. Of course, the legends of Napa Valley are all delivering the high-scoring wines we have come to expect over the years, and thankfully there are many, but it is the uncut gems like Cardano Estate that show us the signs of a truly remarkable vintage. Bursting on to the scene and begging to be shared, this Napa Cabernet is showing incredibly well in its youth and has the structure to please for years to come. Atlas Peak, known for its cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers, is home to some of Napa Valley's highest-elevation vineyard sites with unparalleled quality around every corner. At an altitude of 1,200 feet, the fruit can mature evenly thanks to the perfect combination of morning sunlight and cool afternoon breeze with temperatures regularly ten degrees cooler than the valley floor. Shallow, rocky, and well-drained soils cover the steep slopes forcing vines to produce smaller, more concentrated berries, leading to epically flavored wines. It is here that second-generation vintner, Ed Lewis Snider, founded Cardano Estate. 

Going back over 100 years, Ed's family has a deep-rooted history of winemaking in the Napa Valley. His grandfather Martin Garzoli moved to Napa from Cardano Al Campo, Italy in 1913 to work as a winemaker and farmer. With over 20 years of winemaking experience himself, Ed has built his reputation on a plethora of highly rated and luxuriously priced Cabernets under his Beau Vigne label, including a perfect score in 2013 that just so happened to be the 100-year anniversary of his grandfather's voyage to America to make wine. After selling the Beau Vigne label in 2018, Ed set out on a new mission with his Atlas Peak property: make great wines more accessible to a broader spectrum of wine enthusiasts without sacrificing the standard of excellence that defines him. To bring this incredible value to the table, in a debut vintage no less, Ed has relied on his decades of experience and multitude of connections in the Napa Valley. Sourcing from select vineyards across the valley as well as his Atlas Peak estate, Ed and his son, third-generation vintner Nicholas Snider, have crafted one of Napa's best value Cabernets with their Cardano Estate 1913 release. Consider this your all-access pass to what will surely become an ACME favorite for years to come. 

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 1913 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. This full-bodied Cabernet is front-loaded with powerful black fruit aromas and flavors. A soaring mid-palate is lifted supremely with mouthwatering acidity complemented by elegant yet chiseled tannins. Young and lively, this is steak night Napa Cabernet if there ever was one. Big fruit flavors of cassis and blackberry pie with mocha, tobacco, and cedar chest, supported by ripe, grainy tannins and a vibrant, punctuated finish. Be sure to clear a space in the cellar; this wine is eager to please and built to last!