2018 Smith & Hook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

Since 1980 this family run ranch estate has produced exceptional fruit from the prized Central Coast in California. Originally named after two ranches, named Smith Ranch and the other Hook Ranch, bought by Nicky and Gaby Hahn in 1980 that were for cattle and farm, they merged and built one of the most renowned wine estates in the country. Still owned, operated and even hand harvested through many vineyards by the immediate family today, with the same original tasting room from 40 years ago.

A deep purple-ruby in the glass, this Reserve is fragrant and beautifully defined on the nose with aromas of macerated dark cherries, rich cassis, and candied violets which are further complexed with plum, dried herbs and cedar forest floor accents.

The palate is vibrant, bursting with black and blue fruits, plum flavors, along with notes of warm fig and dark chocolate shavings. This wine is creamy textured, with seamlessly integrated fine tannins and brisk minerality that brings together all the layers in a long succulent finish. -Winemakers notes

Fruit for this reserve wine is sourced from Truesdale vineyard in Paso Robles AVA of the Central California Coast. The well-drained arbuckle and sandy loam soils combined with the vineyard’s deep inland location at 1,560 ft elevation and south-facing slope create the ideal terroir for intensely flavored wines with depth of flavor, excellent structure and naturally balanced acidity.