Whitehall Lane 2018 Cabernet Leonardini Vineyard   

2018 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Leonardini Vineyard St Helena, Napa Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 99 Points

2018 is a brilliantly ripe vintage for this bottling although its style grows more classic the longer it airs. The nose opens with juicy-rich sour dark cherry, cassis, pomegranate syrup, cherry pit, cedar, clove, kalamata olive, dried herb, graphite and forest floor scents. Notable tannins and fruit zest work to initially stiffen the mouth-feel,but these in no way dampen the wines deep layering of spiced cherry, cassis and pomegranate fruit nor its counterpoints of sweet and savory spice. The finish is lingering, opulent and attractively gripping, so the wine will be gorgeous already with Prime Rib and the like. Expect another four to six years of steady improvement.