2018 Scarecrow 2018 Scarecrow
2018 Scarecrow
2018 Scarecrow

2018 Scarecrow

Cabernet Sauvignon

America / California / Napa Valley / Rutherford

¥166,800
JD 100
RP 98
V 97
Size:
Quantity:

Availability: 4

2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, USA

Vineyard Manager Michael Wolf:

After the blazing heat of 2017, the growing season of 2018 was one of the coolest in recent memory. Low rainfall year (45% below 2017), however much of the total rainfall occurred in March, filling the soil profile with water as the vines began to grow.

• Flowering in mid-May was accompanied by ideal weather, leading to very successful pollination and very large crop potential.

• 2018 was a mild summer, and this combined with the large crop stretched the length of the season, allowing ample time for complete ripening.

• Irrigation demand was low due to the mild conditions, and dehydration of the fruit was minimal, even with the extended ripening period.

• One of the biggest challenges was simple logistics of dealing with a large crop harvest at JJC began with the “Old Men” on September 24th and continued at a measured pace through October 15th, allowing each block to reach full ripeness on its own schedule.

Tasting Notes

Winemaker Celia Welch writes of the 2018 Scarecrow:

The 2018 growing season can best be summarized with the word moderation. Although the winter rainfall was much less than in the prior year, the rain gave our vineyards completely saturated soils as the vines began their grand period of growth in late spring. Likewise, summer’s moderate undulations of warming and cooling trends gave the ripening clusters a week of moderate stress followed by a week of recovery, then back through the cycle again. This slow, methodical ripening is immediately apparent when one tastes the resulting wine from this season.

The 2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon shows fully ripe aromas, vibrant and effusive, of blackberries on the vine, dusty cherries, and a sense of fresh earth. On the palate the wine broadens to express its Rutherford character with bright red and blue fruits as well as darker tones of mocha and vanilla. The tannins show polish and power in the same moment, offering a glimpse of the wine as it may evolve in the coming years and decades.

Harvested completely by hand at night, between September 24 through October 19, 2018, this wine is entirely grown on the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The berries were destemmed, optically sorted, and fermented in small batches. After approximately 24 days on skins the fruit was gently pressed and transferred to French Oak barrels, of which roughly 80% were new barrels. The juice was kept in these barrels for about 10 months, then assessed for quality before the first assemblage was created in summer 2019 and the blend was finalized in January 2020. After a total of approximately 22 months in French oak, the wine was bottled in late July 2020 without fining or filtration. A total of 1800 cases were produced.

JD 100

Jeb Dunnuck

Pure perfection in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Scarecrow’s 2018 reveals a dense purple hue as well as an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, toasted spices, chocolate, darker currants, and graphite. This carries to a full-bodied, dense, off-the-charts sexy 2018 that has the vintage’s purity and freshness backed up by flawless balance, a layered mouthfeel, and building yet elegant tannins. This cuvée is hard to resist given its texture and wealth of fruit, but it will ideally be given 3-5 years and should evolve for 30 years or more. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: January 27, 2021. Drinking window: 2024-2056.
RP 98

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Scarecrow is deep garnet-purple in color, slipping slowly, measuredly out of the glass with sensuous notes of blackberry pie, blackcurrant pastilles and Morello cherries, leading to hints of raspberry leaves, oolong tea, cardamom and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of energy, delivering vivacious, mineral-sparked black fruit preserves flavors with a firm, grainy texture and a refreshing lift on the long, long finish. Simply gorgeous! Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Issue date: November 5, 2020. Drinking window: 2023-2053.
V 97

Vinous

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows why this Rutherford site is so highly regarded. A Cabernet of pedigree and stature, the 2018 Scarecrow makes a strong opening statement. Seemingly endless waves of fruit completely bury the tannins. A bit of coaxing releases an exotic melange of gravel, spice, smoke, grilled herb and licorice nuances that meld into the super-concentrated dark fruit. This is another stellar effort by the team led by winemaker Celia Welch and vineyard manager Mike Wolf. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: December 2020. Drinking window: 2026 - 2043.

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AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.

FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE: We provide FREE carrier insurance for lost or damaged shipments (per carrier terms and conditions.)

FREE WINE STORAGE: We provide FREE 6 Months wine cellar storage from date of purchase. Please choose this option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping for a later date.

SHIPPING: During warm summer weather, we recommend to only ship within the United States with Same Day or Next Day Air service to protect the wines from environmental damage. If you would like to waive this protection by shipping Ground, we will request a waiver be signed.

PACKAGING: Our premium wines need optimal temperature consistency, therefore are packaged in EPS foam shippers with gel pack (when needed) and shipped only during ideal weather temperatures.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, wine bottles will be removed from case and shipped inside a foam shipper box for safety (unless otherwise requested). The wooden case will be shipped separately at Ground service. If faster service is necessary please contact us.

WEATHER HOLD: In adverse temperature conditions, we reserve the right to withhold shipment until ideal temperatures return unless we receive explicit instructions via email to release the wines, voiding any guarantee. We will contact you if a hold is necessary.

FULFILLMENT: Shipments are via UPS.

  • Orders received Monday - Thursday before 2:00 p.m. will typically ship the same day.
  • Orders received Thursday 2:00 p.m. ~ Sunday will ship on Monday.

DELIVERY:

  • Same Day service within Los Angeles Metro area may be available if order is placed before noon, but not guaranteed. Please contact us directly at (626)714-7006 to facilitate expedited service.
  • During extreme temperatures, all shipments are recommended for Next Day Air.

Adult Signature: By law, all shipments of alcohol must be received and authorized by an adult. Our delivery carriers will not release packages without an adult signature and additional charges may be incurred if the package requires withholding or redirection.

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We ship within the United States to: Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), and Wyoming (WY).

  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
JD 100

Jeb Dunnuck

Pure perfection in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Scarecrow’s 2018 reveals a dense purple hue as well as an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, toasted spices, chocolate, darker currants, and graphite. This carries to a full-bodied, dense, off-the-charts sexy 2018 that has the vintage’s purity and freshness backed up by flawless balance, a layered mouthfeel, and building yet elegant tannins. This cuvée is hard to resist given its texture and wealth of fruit, but it will ideally be given 3-5 years and should evolve for 30 years or more. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: January 27, 2021. Drinking window: 2024-2056.
RP 98

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Scarecrow is deep garnet-purple in color, slipping slowly, measuredly out of the glass with sensuous notes of blackberry pie, blackcurrant pastilles and Morello cherries, leading to hints of raspberry leaves, oolong tea, cardamom and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of energy, delivering vivacious, mineral-sparked black fruit preserves flavors with a firm, grainy texture and a refreshing lift on the long, long finish. Simply gorgeous! Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Issue date: November 5, 2020. Drinking window: 2023-2053.
V 97

Vinous

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows why this Rutherford site is so highly regarded. A Cabernet of pedigree and stature, the 2018 Scarecrow makes a strong opening statement. Seemingly endless waves of fruit completely bury the tannins. A bit of coaxing releases an exotic melange of gravel, spice, smoke, grilled herb and licorice nuances that meld into the super-concentrated dark fruit. This is another stellar effort by the team led by winemaker Celia Welch and vineyard manager Mike Wolf. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: December 2020. Drinking window: 2026 - 2043.

2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, USA

Vineyard Manager Michael Wolf:

After the blazing heat of 2017, the growing season of 2018 was one of the coolest in recent memory. Low rainfall year (45% below 2017), however much of the total rainfall occurred in March, filling the soil profile with water as the vines began to grow.

• Flowering in mid-May was accompanied by ideal weather, leading to very successful pollination and very large crop potential.

• 2018 was a mild summer, and this combined with the large crop stretched the length of the season, allowing ample time for complete ripening.

• Irrigation demand was low due to the mild conditions, and dehydration of the fruit was minimal, even with the extended ripening period.

• One of the biggest challenges was simple logistics of dealing with a large crop harvest at JJC began with the “Old Men” on September 24th and continued at a measured pace through October 15th, allowing each block to reach full ripeness on its own schedule.

Tasting Notes

Winemaker Celia Welch writes of the 2018 Scarecrow:

The 2018 growing season can best be summarized with the word moderation. Although the winter rainfall was much less than in the prior year, the rain gave our vineyards completely saturated soils as the vines began their grand period of growth in late spring. Likewise, summer’s moderate undulations of warming and cooling trends gave the ripening clusters a week of moderate stress followed by a week of recovery, then back through the cycle again. This slow, methodical ripening is immediately apparent when one tastes the resulting wine from this season.

The 2018 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon shows fully ripe aromas, vibrant and effusive, of blackberries on the vine, dusty cherries, and a sense of fresh earth. On the palate the wine broadens to express its Rutherford character with bright red and blue fruits as well as darker tones of mocha and vanilla. The tannins show polish and power in the same moment, offering a glimpse of the wine as it may evolve in the coming years and decades.

Harvested completely by hand at night, between September 24 through October 19, 2018, this wine is entirely grown on the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The berries were destemmed, optically sorted, and fermented in small batches. After approximately 24 days on skins the fruit was gently pressed and transferred to French Oak barrels, of which roughly 80% were new barrels. The juice was kept in these barrels for about 10 months, then assessed for quality before the first assemblage was created in summer 2019 and the blend was finalized in January 2020. After a total of approximately 22 months in French oak, the wine was bottled in late July 2020 without fining or filtration. A total of 1800 cases were produced.

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