Eponymous 2018 grapes come from 4 distinctly different vineyard sites. Mt. Vedeer is a core vineyard the winery has been drawing from for almost 10 years – and it is over 50% of the blend this year. This was rounded out by grapes from Howell Mountain, Coombsville, and the bench lands of Atlas Peak. After picking, hand-harvested fruit was fermented and then aged 20 months in 60% new oak barrels (100% French), with frequent racking the first year.

The 2018 vintage benefitted from slightly above normal rainfall, with rains continuing through mid-May. This gave the vines a good start in Spring, with a good amount of moisture in the soil. There was no rain during the growing season, and relatively mild temperatures, with only a few heat spikes during the Summer. The above helped the winery harvest one of the best quality crops in a few years.

Eponymous 2018 shimmers with a stunning deep garnet color and exudes wonderful intensity and complex notes as soon as the cork is pulled. Aromas include ripe plums, strawberries, rhubarb, cassis, and hints of freshly grated nutmeg and vanilla. The well-integrated fruit carries over to the palate, with a balanced structure and ample but supple tannins that lead to a long and polished finish.