Crushed stone fruit, blackcurrants, bay leaf, iodine and seaweed. Full-bodied with blue fruit, firm tannins and super length. It’s austere and so focused. Great length. Needs time to open and show its true self. Harkens back to the late 1970s. Try after 2026.

Diamond Creek's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow is sensual, racy and pliant, with striking aromatic presence and gorgeous mid-weight structure. Rose petal, lavender, spice, menthol and red/purplish fruit all grace this silky Cabernet. Best of all, the 2018 will drink well with minimal cellaring. -- Antonio Galloni

This pebbly portion of the estate vineyard consists of five acres, originally planted in 1968. With small percentages of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, it is woody in forest, graphite and clove, with a silky, rounded and expansive palate of rich, red fruit. With balanced acidity and structure, it has a long, spicy finish of clove and will do well in the cellar. Enjoy best from 2028–2038. - VIRGINIE BOONE

(94+ points) The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow is already closing down a little bit, but it still shows attractive notes of dried porcini mushrooms alongside fresh cassis and blackberry fruit. This is medium to full-bodied, not as bold or opulent as the 2019, but nicely balanced, with slightly chunkier, blockier tannins. Despite the more muscular structure, the wine still finishes long, with surprising elegance. - Joe Czerwinski

Ripe and a bit showy in feel, with a blast of cassis and plum purée notes liberally laced with violet, singed applewood and red licorice notes. Then a nice mix of iron and warm stone accents cuts in on the finish, pulling everything together as the violet note takes an encore. Best from 2022 through 2038. 647 cases made. — JM