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By Calluna Vineyards
2018 Calluna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Background
Calluna Vineyards took root in Sonoma County in 2005 with 12 acres in the Chalk Hill appellation planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. From its advantageous hillsides overlooking the Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill is known for its mild climate and soils underlain with fractured shale and sandstone. Five more acres were added in 2014, including Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon destined for our estate blanc.

Winemaker and Founder, David A. Jeffrey
After 20 years of studying and collecting the wines of Bordeaux and California, David moved to the West Coast and enrolled in Fresno State's Enology program in 2001. Determined to make his dream a reality, David spent 3.5 years studying winemaking and grape growing as he completed his degree and worked at Chateau Quinault in Bordeaux, France.

Vintage Details
2018 started out with a normal budbreak in early April after years of earlier budbreak driven by low winter rains. Mild late spring and early summer weather with temperatures regularly in the mid-80s, with minimal wind and no rain allowed the wines to set a full crop of fruit. While there was a short run of elevated temperatures in early August, this growing season was notable for its relatively cool but beautiful weather from that point on. There were no damaging heat spikes. And while we did get about 1.5 inches of rain around October 2nd, it did not bother the fruit and was welcome as it tamped down fire risk. It was essentially a perfect end to a long growing season, which yielded ripeness for our fruit. A larger and high-quality harvest translated into some of the very best wines.

Vineyard Notes
As the flagship of the winery, Calluna Estate is selected from the best lots of our hillside vineyards. Our vineyards rest at an ideal elevation in this moderate growing area, allowing full ripening with less extremes of frost and heat. Our goal is to deliver both the classic balance of Old World wines and the richness inherent in our Sonoma terroir.

Vineyard Details
Appellation: Chalk Hill
Harvest: October 1st for Malbec, September 22nd and October 1st for Merlot, October 13th and 20th for Cabernet Franc, October 11th, 13th, 20th, and 27th for Cabernet Sauvignon, October 27th for Petit Verdot

Winemaking Details
Blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Winemaking: Hand-harvested and manually sorted. Fermented in a traditional method in open-top tanks with temperature control. Each of the 12 blocks is fermented separately and then evaluated with blending trials after the first five months in barrel.
Aging: 21 months in 40% new French oak barrels
Bottling: Unfiltered
Alcohol: 13.80%
pH: 3.6
Release Date: Spring 2022
[Information provided by Wine Procurement Services]

Wine: 2018 Calluna Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Calluna Estate
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2021 - 2041
Review Date: 07/22/2021
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The estate 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Calluna Estate is well worth seeking out and shows the pure, focused, classic style of the estate. Cassis, blueberries, violets, crushed stone, and tobacco are just some of the nuances here, and it has a solid back-end dose of classy oak, medium to full body, building tannins, and the freshness, balance, and concentration to keep for two decades.

Wine: 2018 Calluna Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: 2021 - 2026
Review Date: 06/03/2021
Reviewed By: Erin Brooks
Tasting Notes: Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate opens with pencil shavings and cast iron, with a core of black cherries, tar and turned earth. The palate is full-bodied, firm and fresh with restrained, mineral-laced fruits and an uplifted finish. This offering has a touch more definition than the 2018 Calluna Vineyards Cuvee.

Wine: Calluna Cabernet Sauvignon Chalk Hill 2018
Score/Rating: 84
Review Date: 09/22/2022
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: A modest offering, with a mix of black cherry, singed vanilla, dill and green peppercorn notes. Picks up a lightly dusty edge on the finish. [...].