2021 Robert Mondavi The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully crafted wine with impressive intensity, depth, and a balanced structure that carries the day. From the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, the portion owned by Constellation, comes this blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Pure blackberry fruit, cassis, graphite, and violet aromas leap from the glass, nuanced by fragrant, toasty new cedar wood. Full-bodied, framed by an array of plush dark black fruit notes, currants, crème de cassis, and polished tannins that are firm and elongated, with ironstone mineral accents. Dynamic in its length and texture, it is utterly intriguing, with a beckoning quality that lingers after each sip. You want to know precisely where this wine is going—demanding your attention.--Jonathon Cristaldi, Decanter

A richly fruited version, offering boysenberry, black currant and blackberry puree notes that stream through, yet this stays reserved in style, with a remarkable sense of polish. Loam, licorice root and singed alder elements emerge steadily through the long finish. A lovely late twang of iron adds to the range. Drink now through 2044. 650 cases made.-James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

 

Highest Beauty’s winemaker, Andy Erickson had the enormous task of following in the footsteps of Heidi Peterson Barrett at Screaming Eagle in 2006. Erickson started his winemaking career at Harlan Estate and was then named winemaker at Staglin in 2001 before founding his own winery, Favia, in 2003 with his viticulturist wife, Annie Favia. Besides his career at Screaming Eagle and Favia, he has been consulting winemaker for Hartwell, Ovid, Dancing Hares, Dalla Valle and Arietta in Napa and Jonata in the Santa Ynez Valley. Andy and Annie have most recently establish their own winery, Leviathan. The 2021 vintage will mark Andy Erickson's final vintage as winemaker for Highest Beauty. He will work on the 2022 with Tony Biagi, Vinous 2020 Winemaker of the Year who has worked with Sinegal, Cade, and Plumpjack.