Harvest Updates: The end of harvest — Cabernet Sauvignon (Part 2)

Sean W. McBride Letters from Napa Valley

Part 2: It’s been such an incredible vintage I don’t even know where to begin with extolling 2024’s virtues. Extremely high sugars and low pHs with lots of acidity on the midpalate that is balanced (at least in the wines that are just finishing fermentation now — our Merlot blocks, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and our Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon) by a wonderfully rich and sweet midpalate, and a finish that goes on for days. These will be some of the biggest wines we have produced since 2018, with the classic vintages of 2019, 2021, and 2022 taking a bit of a backstage place, and just (I think and hope and believe) edging out 2023 as the finest vintage since 2016.

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