2018 The Farm Cabernet Sauvignon Cardinal
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Tasting notes
Sourced from 56-year-old vines in the Old Bailey Vineyard, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cardinal leads with a fragrant nose of pure red and black fruits, dried herbs and tinges of old leather. The medium-bodied, supple and slightly succulent palate leads to a vibrant but straightforward finish lined with subtle, lifted acidity. I suspect this is at its peak, as I don't find the stuffing or structure needed for further improvement.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Nicely dusty nose with frozen blueberries, currants, stones, sweet tobacco leaf and a hint of honeyed flowers. Medium-bodied palate, succulent berries and a fine vein of silky tannins. Really linear, elegant and polished with a long, juicy finish. Very drinkable now, but can hold well, too.
The 2018 Cardinal is all old vine Cabernet Sauvignon from the Old Baily Vineyard in Paso Robles, aged 28 months in new barrels. It has a solid bouquet of ripe currants, plums, lead pencil, and sage brush to go with a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant, slightly Bordeaux-like style on the palate. It's enjoyable today, has good freshness and ripe tannins, and should age gracefully.
Inky ruby. Intensely perfumed cherry, cassis, floral and pipe tobacco aromas take on baking spice, mocha and smoky mineral nuances with air. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering vibrant, finely detailed black currant, cherry liqueur, candied rose and vanilla flavors and a hint of dark chocolate. The spicy note recurs strongly on an impressively long, focused finish framed by polished, well-integrated tannins. Aged for two years in new French oak barrels.