Ehret Family Winery 2018 'Hillside Reserve' Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Ehret Family Winery 2018 'Hillside Reserve' Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

...fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon pleaser...
Tastings.com
dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
Tastings.com 94
IWWC 94
...fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon pleaser...
Tastings.com

Mission Codename Bavarian Knights

Pulse quickening. Breath shortening. Eyes dilating.

Hold the line… and GOOO!!! A most excellent day is upon us!

Because we uncovered a double the 94-points superstar from the sunny and lush Knights Valley! A wine you may not have heard of, but absolutely need to know about.

EHRET! We could not be prouder to feature this rarely seen, uber-small-production, fine-tuned Hillside Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at a price that will make you blush.

This is a top-shelf wine, as capable as any $100-200 Napa Cab, but with JUST 8 BARRELS MADE and our world’s best-ever price, well, you know how this will end.

Haven’t heard of Ehret?

You sure must have heard of Pahlmeyer or Martinelli. Well, they share the Ehret winemaker here, the venerable Erin Green! She makes magic happen having spent time at Sonoma-Cutrer, Vinwood, and as a protégé of Helen Turley until 1999, working with cult wineries such as Bryant Family and Colgin, before taking the helm at Pahlmeyer from 2000 to 2012, when she took over Helen Turley at Martinelli.

Proprietor Pierre Ehret is an avid motorsports racer from Dusseldorf, Germany. He established Bavarian Lion Vineyards in 1996 and supplied a who’s who of producers for years… Until 2005, when they started keeping the prime fruit for themselves from the best vineyard blocks. There’s a super cool recent article here by the Wine Editor of Santé Magazine that sums it up: “It is not only the location and dazzling views, it is also the magical grapes that grow here, the passion and love the Ehret family pours into protecting the environment, and a dedicated team focused on producing outstanding wines.”

They spare no expense in the process and show that characteristic German obsession over every detail. They employ the Vyborny Vineyard Management team who also tends vines for legends like Far Niente and Joseph Phelps. Hand harvested fruit from their estate vineyard in Knights Valley AVA, 400-800 feet elevation.

Deep red currant, cassis, crushed rose petals, cigar box, and striking minerality. A healthy dose of new French oak (87.5%) gives it that extra toasty plumpness. Then comes the deep traction of tannins that are relentlessly hefty, while a plush, sexy side tickles your palate with fruit and oak. This is not just a baby that is bound to grow up and win marathons, but also a complex and austere collectible. At the frontline price it gives Napa Valley a run for the money. At our price, no reserve Cab can easily compete, but the race against time, as only 8 barrels were made.

94 Points – Tastings.com

“Violet color. Inviting aromas and flavors of horse hay, carob bacon bar, cassis pie crust, and sweet pepper with a supple, bright, fruity medium-to-full body and a seamless, elegant, long finish with accents of blueberry cobbler a la mode, spiced cherries, and cocoa nibs with moderate oak flavor. A plush, dimensional, fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon pleaser for now or years down the road.”

94 Points, Gold – IWWC

“Far from reluctant or in any way lacking for fruity substance and depth, this nicely concentrated, full-bodied working, in contrast to its non-reserve mate, takes a little more time in the glass to get going… a sure bet to broaden and show increased layering over time, and it deserves to be cellared for another six to ten years.”

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What the Winery Says 2018 'Hillside Reserve' Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Ehret Family Winery
Ehret Family Winery
Winemaker
Erin Green
Varietals
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage
2018
Alcohol
15.5%
Appellation
Knights Valley, Sonoma County
Vineyard
Bavarian Lion Vineyards
Soils:
Gravely and Sandy Loam
pH
3.78
Total acidity
0.58
Aging
18 months
Barrels
100% French oak (78% new)

About the Winery Ehret Family Winery

Ehret Family Winery Winemaker Erin Green
Ehret Family Winery Winemaker Erin Green
Ehret Family Winery 2018 'Hillside Reserve' Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Sep 20, 2022 at 11:59 pm
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Ehret Family Winery 2018 'Hillside Reserve' Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Sep 20, 2022 at 11:59 pm
Register to get notified when this wine is back in stock:
Sign Up For Free