2018 DuMOL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

Track the temperature over an average Napa Valley vintage, and the later months chart like a trail runner’s heart rate, showing the heat spikes that never fail to make winemakers sweat.

However, 2018 played out like a Sunday stroll, with temps barely breaking 90 in September and the mid-80s in October. The mellow weather allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and steadily, giving winemakers the time to pick at their leisure—and a prime opportunity to produce a best-ever bottle. 

DuMOL did just that, turning in a rich, textured 2018 Cab that Wine Enthusiast named their #7 Cellar Selection of the year. With a 98-point score, this wine stands at the pinnacle of 2018 Napa Cabernet. 

DuMOL is the only Cabernet to chart at the top of Wine Enthusiast’s ratings in both 2017 and 2018, but it’s still a bit of a secret since it comes from a Sonoma County producer best known for cooler-climate Pinots. Don’t be fooled, though: Winemaker Andy Smith honed his Cabernet skills under legend Paul Hobbs, and over 15 years at Napa Valley’s iconic Larkmead. 

In the seamless 2018, Smith secured deep fruit richness from the True Dog Knoll and Roach Vineyards in Oakville and St. Helena. The beautiful, broad texture and density come from the Meteor Vineyard in cooler Coombsville, and the Ballard Vineyard on Spring Mountain adds structure. Aged for 20 months in 56% new French oak, this masterful Napa Cabernet is an indispensable addition to your cellar.