2018 Lancaster Winemaker's Cuvée, Alexander Valley
Winemaker Notes
Our 2018 Winemaker’s Cuvée is a testament to an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux grapes
and our incredible vineyards in the Alexander Valley. A strong base of 68% Cabernet
Sauvignon and 28% Merlot is complemented by small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec
and Petit Verdot. This wine delivers the epitome of complexity and depth. The combination of
warm climate and alluvial and gravelly loam soil found on our estate is ideal for creating
balanced wines of concentration and richness. Dark purple in the glass, this wine opens with
aromas of indulgent, dark berry fruit with savory undertones and notes of toasted oak. The
palate is full bodied with multi-layered flavors of black cherry, currant, tobacco and graphite. A
wine of impeccable structure and balance that allows aging for 5-10 years.
Composition
68% Cabernet Sauvignon,
28% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc,
1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Red Blends
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Harvest Date
October 9 - October 12, 2018
Acid
5.9 g/L
pH
3.50
Bottling Date
October 12, 2020
Alcohol %
14.90
Production Notes
Made in the signature Lancaster style,
this is a wine of incredible balance and
structure that is made in the old-world
Bordeaux style with a velvety
mouth-feel and lush fruit. David
Drake, our winemaker of over 20
years, has a hands-off approach to let
the fruit and terroir of these
exceptional vineyards shine. Native
yeasts were used for primary
fermentation while secondary
malolactic fermentation occurred
naturally in barrel. To preserve the
truest expression of the fruit, the wine
was gently fined and bottled. This wine was aged sur lie for 15
months in French oak. 30% of the
barrels were new and all were
coopered using a combination of
Medium Plus, Medium Long, and
Heavy toast levels to provide better
integration and balance.
Vineyard Notes
The Alexander Valley experienced
another ideal growing season in 2018.
The long season provided moderate
temperatures for the grapes to ripen at
the ideal speed. The result is an
incredible vintage marked by clean,
outstanding fruit characteristics with
balanced, bright acidity and sugar
levels. We harvested the fruit at optimal
ripeness from October 9 - 12, 2018.
