Sloan | Napa Valley Red Wine 2018 / 750 ml.

The 2018 Sloan is a flat out stunner. Rich, dramatic and full-bodied, with striking energy, the 2018 is viscerally thrilling right out of the gate. Black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and gravel all build as this towering, statuesque Cabernet shows off its pedigree. The 2018 is simply magical, and just as breathtaking from bottle as it was as a barrel sample last year. It is the very finest Sloan I have ever tasted. I can’t wait to see how it ages. (Antonio Galloni)

I compared the 2018 Proprietary Red to a great vintage of Mouton Rothschild from barrel and I’m still happy with that comparison now from bottle. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as gorgeous aromatics of blackcurrants, chocolate, espresso, tobacco leaf, charcoal, and gravelly earth, this big, full-bodied, concentrated, tannic wine is flawlessly balanced, incredibly precise, and as pure and classy as they come. It needs to be forgotten for at least 5–7 years and will have 30–40 years of overall longevity. Bravo to the team at Sloan for another magical wine. (Jeb Dunnuck)

A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller proportions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2018 Proprietary Red displays and deep, vibrant garnet-purple color. Baked plums, blackberry pie, crème de cassis and toasty oak notes leap from the glass, followed by hints of tilled soil, Indian spices, mocha and crushed rocks. Big, full-bodied, opulent and velvety, it has a solid structure and a very long, seductively spicy finish.