Robert Craig Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2018

Robert Craig has long been a champion of Napa’s high-elevation fruit, but “Affinity” is his love letter to the stony soils of the Coombsville foothills. Sourced primarily from the estate La Londe Vineyard—just south of Stags Leap—this is a wine that consistently punches well above its weight class, offering a sophisticated glimpse into the world of mountain-grown Cabernet without the mountain-high price tag.

The 2018 vintage in Napa was a grower’s dream: long, cool, and remarkably even. This temperate season allowed the fruit to reach an apogee of ripeness while preserving a spine of fresh acidity. In the glass, you’ll find a deep, inky profile characteristic of the rocky Mt. George foothills. It’s brimming with dark plums, cassis, and mulberry, but the real magic lies in the savory “Coombsville” signature—think scorched cedar, tobacco leaf, and a touch of graphite.

While some Napa Cabs can feel like a heavy velvet curtain, this blend (rounded out with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec) is vibrant and focused. It’s a bottle that is approachable now with a short decant, yet it possesses the structural integrity to evolve beautifully in your cellar for the next decade.