2021 Bella Oaks Proprietary Blend

The final blend of the Bella Oaks 2021 Proprietary Red Wine ended up at 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. With a compelling nose of dusty earth, dried spices and mixed red and black cherries, this full-bodied wine boasts an elegant texture somewhere between silk and velvet with a gentle wash of silky tannins on the long, mouthwatering finish. To be released in Fall 2024.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon can perhaps be thought of as a mix of the 2018 and 2019 or a more concentrated 2018. Cassis, darker currants, graphite, crushed stone, and hints of violets all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a concentrated, deep, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and outstanding length. This tiny site in Rutherford has again delivered a world-class wine that I think will surpass the 2018, and probably merit a perfect rating at maturity. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and it will evolve for at least two decades. Bravo!

The 2021 Proprietary Red Wine is exquisite. A wine of exceptional balance and class, it hits all the right notes. Specifically, the 2021 shows the finesse of the year, but it also possesses an extra kick of mid-palate resonance that sets it apart from so many other wines in this vintage and places it among the most elite wines of the year. A dollop (5%) of fruit from Ecotone rounds out the blend. Tasted two times.