2018 H.W.C. CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 H.W.C. CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2018 H.W.C. CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Named after the founder of To Kalon, H.W.C is produced from one single clonal selection of Cabernet Sauvignon within To Kalon. These vines were originally planted by Robert Mondavi, who was lured to To Kalon by the depth and richness of the wines he made from the vineyard in the 1960s. This incredibly low-yielding selection of Cabernet Sauvignon produces wines with high energy, a black-purple color, and exceptional aromatic and palate intensity—a high-resolution look at this noble variety. The inaugural vintage captures all the best attributes of 2018, with great balance, purity, and density. While not overly ripe or extracted, the wine has remarkable freshness, texture, richness, and length. Four extra months of barrel aging give it a high level of polish and a silky finish.

  • Vintage 2018
  • Alcohol 14.0%
  • Vineyard To Kalon Vineyard
  • Appellation Oakville, Napa Valley
  • Varietal 100% Heritage Clone Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cooperage 100% New French Oak
  • Winemaker Andy Erickson
  • Region California

  • Accolades

    98 Pts. “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon H.W.C comes from a single block planted to what's now called the Heritage Clone, which was planted by Mondavi. Beautiful black raspberry, cassis, and ripe strawberry fruits as well as flowers and spicy incense notes emerge on the nose, and it's full-bodied, with a blockbuster of a mid-palate, velvety tannins, and a great finish. This ripe, uber-sexy, seamless, hedonistic, yet pure and wonderfully balanced Cabernet will evolve for two decades."
    — Jeb Dunnuck

    97 Pts. “Lots of redcurrants on the nose, together with some sweet tobacco and roses. Medium-to full-bodied with creamy, round tannins and a flavorful finish. From a single parcel in To Kalon with a heritage clone of cabernet sauvignon. Juicy and delicious already, but needs a few years to open."
    — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com

  • Vineyard

    H.W. Crabb came to California looking for gold but stayed to become one of the pioneers of Napa Valley winemaking. He named his estate To Kalon Vineyard, Greek for Highest Beauty, because of the lush bounty it provided. Soon, his wines became renowned around the world. And over the last 150 years, the vineyard’s consistent fine quality has made it one of the most coveted in the world.

    Sited between the sheltering Vaca and Mayacamas mountain ranges deep in the valley, the vineyard has well-drained, gravelly soil that allows the vines to root deeply to find precious moisture and nutrients. The broad diurnal temperature shifts and reliable sun, wind, and fog provide the ideal blend of growth and rest for complex flavor development.

  • Vintage

    2018 was a spectacular growing season from start to finish. February brought a healthy dose of rain, fully replenishing the soils. Sunshine and mild temperatures followed, setting up nearly ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set. Light rains in early October, followed by breezy warm days, allowed the vineyards to fully mature and the grape harvest felt like the smoothest of landings.