2023 Hourglass Blueline Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga, Napa Valley California 750ml

...soaring aromas of wild violet, bramble, and warm toasty notes, wrapped in vivid floral intensity. On the palate, a thread of dark chocolate bitterness weaves through vibrant ruby-red, black, and blue fruits, framed by a fresher, more elegant profile shaped by the cooler season. Sleek, refined tannins create a taut yet polished texture, while the hallmark crushed stone and crackling minerality of Blueline's rocky Cortina soils drive energy and lift. Subtle hints of graham cracker and delicate oak tones carry through a long, vibrant finish.
The estate's name is derived from the two "blueline streams" that deposited its soils over millions of years and form the DNA of the vineyard's unique personality.
Blueline Estate's gravelly Cortina soils provide excellent drainage, yielding smaller berries with greater concentration.
Hallmark characteristics: A tensional yin/yang of vibrancy counterpointing richness - blackberry bramble, cassis, and a polished texture are energized by crushed-stone minerality. | Hourglass

Ultra-classic and lights-out good...Red and black fruits, spicy wood, tobacco, and savory herb and chocolate nuances all emerge from this beauty, which is medium to full-bodied, balanced, has fine tannins, and a great finish. It does everything right and is well worth your time and money. There are roughly 990 cases produced... | 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com