Corison Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

If there’s one name that serves as the North Star for restraint in Napa Valley, it’s Cathy Corison. While the rest of the valley was chasing big and bold in the late 90s and 2000s, Cathy stayed the course, producing Cabs that favor grace, acidity, and longevity over high-octane extraction. The 2018 vintage—a long, cool growing season—is quite possibly the perfect canvas for her style.

This isn’t a fruit bomb. It is an exercise in precision and purity. The nose is an aromatic garden: think dried rose petals, violet perfume, and a deep core of tart black cherry and cassis. There’s a wonderful savory edge here too—hints of tobacco leaf, pencil shavings, and forest floor that remind you this is Cabernet in its most honest form.

With an ABV of 13.8%, it’s a refreshing alternative to the riper styles typical of the region. It’s a literal time capsule of old-school Napa winemaking, showing exactly what can happen when you let the soil do the talking.