One Bottle: Raymond Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection Half Bottle 2018 375 ml
One Bottle: Fourrier Brut Rose Champagne NV 375mL

~ By Raymond ~
2018 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Velvet Label
The dress code is velvet. The velvet label symbolizes the texture, emotion, and feeling in the wine, the dynamic legacy of the Raymond family, and a vibrant vision of our future.

2018 Vintage
2018 was a near picture-perfect growing season that began in late February, followed by a mild spring, yielding uniform grape clusters. Temperatures remained moderate to cool throughout the season, with 2018 being considered one of the coolest vintages of the past decade. The cooler temperatures allowed for a longer hang time, resulting in an even and temperate harvest.

Winemaker's Notes
The grapes for this 2018 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested from vineyards across Napa Valley, including those planted in Oakville, our Rutherford and St. Helena estates, and hillside locations that provide the wine with good structure. Picked in the early morning hours to maintain freshness between September 29 and November 9, the grapes went through extended maceration. The wine was aged for 19 months in 37% new French oak barrels before being bottled unfiltered.

Tasting Notes
This Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a beautiful bouquet of blackcurrants, espresso, and notes of violet. An array of dense dark fruit flavors of rhubarb, dark cherry, and blackberries are layered with blackcurrants, clove, and orange peel. This is a full-bodied and structured wine with well-integrated and supple tannins and a richly textured finish that coats the palate.

Technical Details
Appellation: Napa Valley
Alcohol: 14.50%
Aging: 19 months in 37% new French oak
Varietals: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
pH: 3.85
TA: 4.9 g/L
[Information provided by Boisset Collection]

~ By Philippe Fourrier ~
Brut Rose Champagne NV

Winery Notes
100% Pinot Noir from several prime Cote des Bar. Fourrier sustainable family vineyards. Handpicked with a maximum 50 hl/ha yield. 18 months bottle ageing prior to disgorging. In-house liqueur d'expedition. Carefully selected native yeasts.
[Information provided by J.H.N.]

By Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2018 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve
Producer: Raymond 
From: USA, California, North Coast, Napa Valley
Color: Red
Type: Table 
Sweetness: Dry
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 92
Reviewed by:  Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Issue Date: 26th Feb 2021
Source: Issue 253 End of February 2021, The Wine Advocate
Drink Date: 2021-2032
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve is composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, coming from more than 20 different sites, with 29% coming from estate vineyards in St. Helena and Rutherford. It was aged in French oak barrels, 37% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rocks up with ready-for-business scents of blackcurrant pastilles, redcurrant jelly and Morello cherries with hints of dried Provence herbs, pencil shavings and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with crunchy black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and savory.

Raymond Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection
Rating: 92
Napa Valley, Napa Valley
Red wine from United States
Drinking window: 2021 - 2030
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection lifts out of the glass with tons of sheer intensity. Inky dark red cherry, mocha, cedar, spice and licorice are pushed front and center. This mid-weight, supple Cabernet has so much to offer. It’s a terrific introduction to the Raymond range.
Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: December 2020

RAYMOND Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve Selection 2018
Score: 91
Country: United States 
Region: Napa 
Issue: Web Only - 2021
Ripe and welcoming, with waves of red currant preserves and plum sauce rolling through, wrapped with red licorice and infused with a fruitcake note on the finish. Features a lightly toasty frame that lets the fruit hold center stage. Drink now through 2026. — JM

2018 Raymond Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve
Producer: Raymond Vineyards
Location: USA, California, North Coast, Napa Valley
Color: Red
Rating: 90
Tasting Date: 1/27/2021
Maturity: 2021 - 2030
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck        
Source: Napa Valley’s 2018s
Another outstanding wine, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve comes from over 20 different sites and was brought up in 37% new French oak. Redcurrants, leafy tobacco, and spice notes define the bouquet, and it’s lush, fruit-loaded, and ready to go. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 7-8 years or so. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve longer.