- 98 Points Jeb Dunnuck - Coming from a new single vineyard Mount Veeder, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder comes from a block selection made by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and, I believe, is 100% Cabernet. Lots of forest floor, bay leaf, violets, and assorted blue-tinged fruits define the bouquet, and this is another full-bodied, tight, backward, yet incredibly impressive wine. It will probably merit a triple digit rating in a decade and should see its 30th birthday in fine form.
98 Points Wine Advocate - The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder Estate is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes barreling out of the glass with bold notes of blackcurrant pastilles, blueberry pie, warm plums and crushed rocks with hints of fragrant earth, black truffles and olives. Full-bodied, rich and packed with juicy black fruit, it has a firm, grainy texture and lively backbone, with a long-lingering minty kick on the finish. 400 cases were made.
The Pulido-Walker Mt. Veeder Estate Vineyard is meticulously planted, drawing on several years of data collection prior to putting a single vine or rootstock in the ground. It has been quite the voyage of discovery shepherding this wine from the initial planting of clones 15, 30, 169, and 685 to the release of this inaugural vintage. We decided to harvest by clone and ferment the four wine lots individually. It was unanimous: the lots from clones 15 and 685 were standouts.
Mark Pulido and Donna Walker are immensely gratified that right out of the gate, this Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is every inch the thoroughbred, easily rivaling the wine from its sister vineyard on Pritchard Hill and a welcomed companion.