Napa Valley Cabernet: Best Calistoga 2018 wines
Located in the northern part of California's Napa Valley, Calistoga has the most extreme diurnal swing of all the region's AVAs, enjoying some of the warmest daytime temperatures but also the coolest nights. Matthew Luczy picks his top Calistoga wines from the 2018 vintage...
As with the entire Napa Valley, 2018 in Calistoga was a drama-free ‘winemaker vintage’ where producers were free to express individual styles.
‘There’s nothing wrong with a vintage being climatically average. It’s actually really good. It was a breather. It gave the vines time to relax after a pretty stressful 2017’ says Larkmead winemaker Dan Petroski.
Scroll down for the top-scoring Calistoga 2018 wines
The northernmost AVA in Napa Valley, Calistoga has some of the warmest daytime temperatures but also the coolest nights, helping grapes retain a zesty, clean acidity. While producer styles vary widely, there is a consistently rich power to the wines, one harnessed by an upright, sturdy, high-toned structure.
Larkmead sits at the far southern edge of the region, producing a deep, plush style. ‘We’re technically in the Calistoga AVA but we designate our wines Napa Valley’, says Petroski. This is common throughout Napa Valley, especially among entrenched, historical producers that long predate the sub-AVA breakdowns, or the AVA system entirely.
Napa Valley Cabernet: Full 2018 vintage report
On the northern end of the appellation is the famed Chateau Montelena. These wines display a brighter, more energetic profile than those of Larkmead. ‘This is where the two mountain ranges come together’ says Montelena winemaker Matt Crafton. ‘Calistoga used to have a gliderport. People would ride thermals that come off the Palisades and the Mayacamas. As that heat rises up through convection, make-up air is pulled in through Russian River from the Pacific. Every afternoon when it’s warm, right around 3:30, a 15°C breeze comes in and cools everything down quickly.’
Quick links
Individual AVA analysis and top-scoring wines coming soon:
Coombsville, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Oakville, Rutherford, St Helena Stags Leap District
Top expressions of Calistoga include The Eisele Estate, Jericho Canyon, Jones, Montelena’s Estate bottling and Hourglass’ Blueline Estate.
See the best Calistoga 2018 wines
See also
Decanter Premium Collector’s Guide: Napa Valley
The rise of US urban wineries
California Cabernet 2016: Panel tasting results
Hourglass, Blueline Estate 36, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
The deepest of the Hourglass lineup. Toasted tobacco and sappy black fruit aromas. Considerably more black-fruited and filled out than the standard Blueline Estate bottling....
2018
HourglassNapa Valley
Turnbull, Amoenus Vineyard, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
From the northwestern portion of the appellation, a more mellow, black-fruited iteration of Calistoga. Wet clay, blackcurrants and black pepper on the nose. The palate...
2018
TurnbullNapa Valley
Chateau Montelena, Estate, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
Considerably more depth than the Napa Valley release, although a bit shy on the nose at first. After oxygen exposure, aromas of grilled plums, lilies...
2018
Chateau MontelenaNapa Valley
Hourglass, Blueline Estate, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
Aromas here perfectly balance charred-oak aromas with those of fresh purple flowers and structured red fruits. More lush and fleshy on the palate than the...
2018
HourglassNapa Valley
Fisher Vineyards, Lamb Vineyard, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
Sourced from estate vines planted in 1976. Mirabelle plums, redwood and crushed gravel on the nose. Smoldering and powerful on the palate, spilling directly into...
2018
Fisher VineyardsNapa Valley
Jones Winery & Vineyard, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
From by renowned winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. Subtle new French oak aromas mix with saffron, black plums and pine needles. Black cherries, blueberries and paraffin...
2018
Jones Winery & VineyardNapa Valley
Barlow, Barrouge, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
Aromas of bramble, pine sap and blackberries. The palate echoes the plush, giving texture of the Barlow Cabernet, with a touch more rusticity and grit....
2018
BarlowNapa Valley
Barlow, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
Dense and opulent on the nose, with layers of boysenberry, açaí berry and lavender. The palate is juicy and refreshing with zingy acidity that leads...
2018
BarlowNapa Valley
Canard Vineyard, Throwback, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
The addition of small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc here brings a lovely softness to the nose and palate. Aromas of dark chocolate, evergreen...
2018
Canard VineyardNapa Valley
Canard Vineyard, Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calistoga, California, USA, 2018
Aromas of red liquorice, mint and currant jam. The texture here is rich and focused down the center of the palate, with substantial tannins supporting...
2018
Canard VineyardNapa Valley
