2018 My Favorite Neighbors Cabernet

2018 My Favorite Neighbors Cabernet

2018 My Favorite Neighbors Cabernet The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (this was reviewed as the “My Favorite Neighbor” in last year’s report) is similarly deep purple/ruby-hued and has slightly more red fruits with lots of black raspberry, cassis, toasted spice, unsmoked tobacco, and incense aromas and flavors. It almost has a Margaux-like perfume and is medium to full-bodied, seamless, and wonderfully balanced on the palate. Some chalky minerality comes through with time in the glass, and it has plenty of tannins and a great finish. It’s not an over-the-top blockbuster and impresses just as much for its elegance as its richness.96+pts JD

The barrel sample of 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Sirah, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Syrah, aging in 70% new French oak. Deep ruby-black in color, it gives up luscious crème de cassis, blackberry pie, kirsch, mint chocolate, vanilla bean, coffee and grilled meats scents with touches of tobacco and sweet spices. Medium to full-bodied, it offers intense, expertly managed, ripe fruits and loads of spices with a firm, finely grained frame and great freshness, finishing long and spicy. 95pts WA

Cabernet To Die For!

This wine blew me away. The wine is made by Eric Jensen who after much trials and tribulations, learning the hard way, was able to purchase a dream piece of land on the now famous Westside of Paso Robles. The land was owned by the famous Booker brothers, Dick and Claude who had purchased the land back in the 1920’s. Eric purchased 100 acres of the property in 2001 with the intent of growing the best fruit for some of the best wineries in the area.  After making wine with Justin Smith (of Saxum) for five years and Stephan Asseo (of L’Aventure Wines) for two years the Jensen’s decided it was time to create their own expression with Booker Vineyard. Saxum and L’Aventure make some of the greatest cult wines in California today. Saxum’s Booker Vineyard has rated up to 99pts by Parker and sells for $150 to 200 a bottle.

Jenson decided to make his wines as a homage to his original favorite neighbor Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure and Booker’s ‘My Favorite Neighbor’ wines were born. For the entire first year they were friends, each time Stephan called he would refer to himself as Eric’s “favorite neighbor”, as if there was any doubt about who would be calling with such a thick French accent! The title was a self-fulfilling prophecy and in 2006 Eric crafted Cabernet-based wine to honor his friend Stephan and his Bordeaux roots and today we bring you the 2018 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet and it is a stunner. Huge press, classic Cabernet bouquet and flavors, full bodied, opulent and rich, silky smooth tannins and a finish that just goes on forever. The wine reminds me of a great Margaux or killer Napa valley floor Cab like something from a Beckstoffer vineyard. And the price is extremely good, a quarter to a third of his great neighbors who’s wine oh by the way sellout on release and are some of the most collected in the country.