Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (750ML)

97 VM / 97 JD / 95+ WA / 95 WS / 95 JS / 93 WE

#18 Vinepair 50 Best Wines of 2022
#40 Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2022

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Brave is fabulous. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and tons of personality. Graphite, blue/purplish fruit, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, sage, lavender, menthol give the 2018 tons of character to match its explosive feel. The brooding, backward wine is going to need quite a bit of time to unwind, but boy is it gorgeous.-- Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Lots of cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as classic Mount Veeder notes of lavender, violets, bouquet garni, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep, full-bodied mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a plush, layered texture, beautiful tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. Another head-turning wine from this label, it’s a candidate for the best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon out there at the price point.—Jeb Dunnuck

A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was aged for 22 months in oak barrels, 82% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vibrant crème de cassis, baked plums and Morello cherries scents, followed by nuances of sautéed herbs, clove oil, mocha and scorched earth. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black and blue fruits, sporting a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long and minerally. 6,753 cases were made. – Lis Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate

This packs in lots of dense yet sleek blackberry, mulberry and black currant fruit flavors, while anise, sassafras and violet notes add range throughout. There's plenty of structure embedded as well, though it tilts to the zesty, acid-driven side of the ledger, further enlivening the fruit. This has a serious oak treatment, but it's very precise and fine-grained. For the cellar. Best from 2022 through 2038. 6,753 cases made. — JM. Wine Spectator

Blackberry and chili with hints of cloves and graphite. Bitter chocolate, too. Full-bodied, very linear and tight with intense tannins that lead you down the finish. Solid structure. Needs four or five years to open up. Better after 2025.—James Suckling

Reductive on the nose, this age-worthy wine shows a ton of structure and elegant power, finessed in tight, youthful tannin and earthy underbrush. Sage, dust and oak support a framework of dense red fruit that should develop further in the cellar. Enjoy best from 2028–2035. - VB, Wine Enthusiast

Chris Carpenter, founder of Mt. Brave, came to wine country via Chicago with a marketing degree. Before he knew it, he was at UC Davis and then off to Italy working with the Antinori family and studying in Umbria. He has taken this experience and applied it to the soils of Mount Veeder, making wine that respects the history of the place. And man does it work. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a mountain powerhouse. It could definitely use time in the bottle. With very deep dark blackberry fruit and good natural acidity (Mountain fruit often has great acidity) it could be enjoyed now but with significant protein. - Vinepair