You say MORE-gado, but we have to say… Morgado gotta go.

Sadly, 2019 is the FINAL vintage for this beloved producer, Kimberly Hatcher is putting production on pause indefinitely. Consider yourself warned, as WE EXCLUSIVELY go through these farewell releases.

And THIS is her flagship.

Overlooking Pritchard Hill and Lake Hennessey, Sage Ridge is no ordinary vineyard. Along with Morgado, Russell Bevan (Bevan, PerUs), Helen Keplinger (Carte Blanche, Kerr), Jason Moore (Modus Operandi), and Justin Harmon (Argot) are on the shortlist of celebrity winemakers with access to it.

Back when Robert Parker had brought everyone’s attention to Morgado Cellars reporting that “Kimberly works with Russell Bevan and is a volunteer firefighter as well, but she has a super talent for winemaking, seems totally driven to produce something world-class, and appears to be succeeding in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately, the production of all her wines is relatively small… Nevertheless, I loved these wines. Kimberly has obviously picked up a few lessons from her mentor, Russell Bevan, as these are all full-throttle, complex, savory, mouth-filling, delicious wines…”

A graduate of the Bevan school of 100-point winemaking Morgado is known for that “pleasure bent” style and this certainly drives that home. A gutsy Cab, STACKED and PACKED with a towering structure. And the usual soaring scores - 96-98 POINTS from Jeb’s barrel impressions!

But the best part? We’re kind of giving this wine away to celebrate her future endeavors… while some winemakers shy away from extraction, oak, and otherwise dial it back, others dial it UP and push the limits. Words like MASSIVELY concentrated, rich, opulent, and expansive come close to describing this stuff but it’s truly difficult to fathom or describe. The sheer depth of fruit is like a cosmic vortex that sucks you in and never let’s go. Delicious blackberry and sandalwood, graphite, a mélange of baking spice, and a drop of vanilla bean ride along on superfine tannins into a long, long finish. Ripe, not overly so however, it will evolve over a decade, easily. Good luck waiting that long.

Just 5 barrels are made, and this is the very last of it. WILL. GO. FAST.

96-98 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Sage Ridge Vineyard is also similar to the 2018 and has a more complex, exotic vibe, showing plenty of cassis fruits as well as floral, graphite, and sappy herb-like aromas and flavors. Both Cabernets have notable acidity and freshness, yet they’re still in the opulent, textured style of the estate. They’re both well worth seeking out.”