Karo-Kann Cabernet Atlas Peak Private Reserve 2018 | An All-Time Favorite is Back
Karo-Kann Cabernet Atlas Peak Private Reserve 2018 pours a deep ruby color. Plums, mocha, and vanilla aromas waft from the glass. The coffee and chocolate persist on the palate, with black cherry joining the plums, spiked with baking spices. Tannins are smooth and well-developed. Flavors linger long on the palate.
20 months spent aging in new and neutral French oak has polished this powerful mountain Cabernet to silky yet full-bodied perfection. Hints of clove, vanilla bean, and cedar complement the dark fruit, herbs, and floral layers while never overpowering them. In the end, Block 12’s incomparable signature is at the center of Karo-Kann Cabernet Atlas Peak Private Reserve 2018, and we’re so glad it’s back. Load up on as much as you can while it’s still here.
Atlas Peak Block 12 | Karo-Kann Cabernet Atlas Peak Private Reserve 2018
So, 1,800 feet up on Atlas Peak, where Block 12 yielded its powerhouse Cabs, was another vineyard, directly adjacent. The rugged volcanic soil was exactly the same. The steep slopes were an extension of the same natural amphitheater. Most importantly, in the glass, the Cabernet Sauvignon is nearly identical—immensely powerful, rich, and wonderfully complex. It is a critical darling, stewarded by a family with over 15 generations of winegrowing experience, and famous holdings on both sides of the Atlantic.
The parcel belongs to one of the world’s great wine families, and has produced countless high-scoring Cabernets—Wine Advocate was “deeply impressed” by its hard-to-find offerings, while Wine Spectator called the family’s legendary patriarch an “icon.” As such, it took more than a little convincing—plus some help from Mother Nature in the form of the bountiful 2018 vintage—to secure the fruit we wanted and the best-in-class pricing that every Karo-Kann must deliver.
So Special! Triumphant Return of an All-Time Favorite
What makes Block 12 so special—that’s both halves—begins with the rugged earth. The extreme rockiness of this geological stretch accentuates the effect of the cool volcanic soil found all over the mountain, extending the growing season and giving great violet, wild-herb, and cocoa complexity to its Cabernet.
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In setting out to grow some of the most intense and deep-fruited Cabernet in Napa Valley, the owners headed straight to Atlas Peak. They made no mistake in choosing the precise location. What makes Block 12 so special—that’s both halves—begins with the rugged earth. The extreme rockiness of this geological stretch accentuates the effect of the cool volcanic soil found all over the mountain, extending the growing season and giving great violet, wild-herb, and cocoa complexity to its Karo-Kann Cabernet Atlas Peak Private Reserve 2018.
