Nose
The comely perfume of the 2018 To Kalon rises effortlessly out of the glass and bursts with a flamboyant display of blackberries, violets, and a wave of sultry black cherry.
Palate
The voluptuous entry of red and black licorice, Aztec chocolate, and black currants is imbued with spice notes of ancho chile, smoked cardamom, and cumin. This fully integrated and well-proportioned Cabernet has a seamless and fabulously complex finish offering up liquid mineral and loam notes that echo the terroir of To Kalon. The opaque purple potable finishes deep and saturated, with a lavish multi-layered depth and personality and wave of fresh acidity.
Growing Conditions
The 2018 vintage was a glorious growing year for Napa Valley. A frost-free and uniform bud break was followed by steady spring weather during flowering, allowing for an even and generous fruit set. Summer conditions were moderate, with warm days and cool nights, ideal for slow and steady grape maturation. Optimal ripeness was achieved thanks to an early autumn of consistently warm, but not hot, days. The pristine ripening conditions allowed for very intense fruit flavor concentrations. The wines show exceptional balance with concentrated, ripe fruit complemented by bright acidity and supple, yet intense, structure.
Bottling
July 2020
Winemaking
In the cool darkness of night, grapes were hand-picked into twenty-five pound bins to minimize crushing. By early morning, the grapes were subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process which includes our cutting edge optical sorter, and a slow, individual berry hand sort. The fruit was gently gravity-delivered to small tanks and wooden cuves by our unique crane system which kept the berries intact. Cold soaks lasted from five to eight days, and fermentations were managed through a combination of pump overs and délestage. Extended maceration of up to six weeks ensured exceptional extraction and fine-tuning of tannin profiles. This wine underwent twenty-one months of élevage in French oak barrels, 92% of which were new
