Pure perfection in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Scarecrow's 2018 reveals a dense purple hue as well as an incredible bouquet of pure creme de cassis, toasted spices, chocolate, darker currants, and graphite. This carries to a full-bodied, dense, off-the-charts sexy 2018 that has the vintage's purity and freshness backed up by flawless balance, a layered mouthfeel, and building yet elegant tannins. This cuvee is hard to resist given its texture and wealth of fruit, but it will ideally be given 3-5 years and should evolve for 30 years or more. | 100 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.comThe 2018 growing season can best be summarized with the word moderation. Although the winter rainfall was much less than in the prior year, the rain gave our vineyards completely saturated soils as the vines began their grand period of growth in late spring. Likewise, summer's moderate undulations of warming and cooling trends gave the ripening clusters a week of moderate stress followed by a week of recovery, then back through the cycle again. This slow, methodical ripening is immediately apparent when one tastes the resulting wine from this season.The 2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon shows fully ripe aromas, vibrant and effusive, of blackberries on the vine, dusty cherries, and a sense of fresh earth. On the palate the wine broadens to express its Rutherford character with bright red and blue fruits as well as darker tones of mocha and vanilla. The tannins show polish and power in the same moment, offering a glimpse of the wine as it may evolve in the coming years and decades.1800 cases produced. | Winemaker Celia Welchextended tasting notes here.