Bond Vecina 2018

Bond was created by H. William Harlan to bottle Napa Valley's finest hillside vineyards on their own, and Vecina is one of these single sites. The wine is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed biodynamically on the slopes of Napa Valley, where varied volcanic and sedimentary soils and a warm, sunny climate moderated by cooler nights ripen the grape fully while holding structure. Hillside vineyards drain well and stress the vines, concentrating colour, tannin and flavour in the small, thick-skinned berries. The wine ages in oak barrels, where the slow exchange of oxygen through the wood softens the firm tannins and adds layers of vanilla, cedar and spice that frame the dense fruit. The 2018 vintage shows a deep, near-opaque ruby. The nose is rich and concentrated, with ripe cherry and blueberry over dark chocolate, cocoa, tobacco and earthy, oak-derived spice. The palate is full bodied, the powerful fruit carried by firm, ripe tannins, fresh acidity and a long, structured finish built for the cellar. At 14.8 percent it is generous but composed. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted, with prime beef or lamb.