Checkerboard 2018 Aurora Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Napa Valley

A classic vintage… 2018 Checkerboard Aurora Vineyard is expansive and generous. It offers a luscious interpretation of its site and the vintage. Aromas are both sweet and savory, broadly expressive of fresh Blackberries, Bing Cherries, Cranberries, and dried Herbs. On the palate, the Checkerboard Aurora is structured and offers finely polished tannins with a full mid-palate that is lifted by natural acidity and enhanced in a lengthy, lingering finish. In its youth, the 2018 vintage benefits from decanting prior to serving.

Winery Notes: “Aurora Vineyard is nestled in a small valley midway up Diamond Mountain on a large knoll located at an elevation of 1,200 feet. The knoll projects off the mountainside, giving the vineyard full Southern exposure and open light from the East and West, and protection from Napa Valley’s summer fog. Six acres of the vineyard are planted in the knoll’s rich, volcanic soils that are riddled with basalt cobble in a loamy red clay. The remaining six acres are planted in a deep gravely mix of white volcanic ash and chips of decomposed Rhyolite that were washed down from the steep, rocky crags of Diamond Mountain above. The fruit was gently de-stemmed and selected berry-by-berry to create this nuanced, elegant vintage of Checkerboard Aurora. On entry, the wine is savory with vanilla beans, dark red fruits, and aged prosciutto. It’s then broad, fleshy, and full-bodied with spiced plum and caramel and subtler notes of red pepper flake and leather. The tannins are supple and silky and provide the foundation for a lingering finish. It’s a crowd pleaser for fans of Checkerboard Aurora.”