Now, with the release of Calluna’s 2018 “Estate”, the wine stands out even more, especially considering that many iconic Napa properties have already moved on to their 2021 “Grand Vins”. The palate impresses with layers of dried, ripe dark forest fruit, all wrapped around a profoundly savory core infused with sweet spice and herbs.
This is a true stunner—a wine built to impress for years to come, yet equally captivating right now for those who appreciate the finest reds from Bordeaux’s Left Bank and Napa Valley’s premier mountain sites. Jeffrey’s commitment to releasing wines when he feels they are ready, rather than rushing them out, is a rare approach in today’s market.
Here’s to David Jeffrey and Calluna Vineyards for making patience pay off.
Cheers, and taste well!
96 Points, John Gilman (View From The Cellar Door):
“ … an absolute stunner in this vintage. The wine offers up a truly stunning bouquet of sweet black cherries, cassis, Cuban cigar wrapper, a beautifully complex base of soil, a hint of allspice (think of Chalk Hill trying to conjure up Rutherford Dust), a touch of cigar smoke and a beautifully refined framing of cedary new oak. On the palate the wine is pure, refined and full, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent soil signature and grip, fine-grained, seamless tannins and superb length on the complex and perfectly balanced finish. This is not a blockbuster in style, as it is about the weight of a top vintage of Lafite-Rothschild, but it has great intensity of flavor and stunning length on the backend. If you are a fan of Cathy Corison’s beautiful cabernets and are not already buying the wines from Calluna Vineyards, you are making a serious mistake!” - John Gilman, View from the Cellar (October 2021)
