Aquilini Family Red Blend 2018

Earning 93 points in the Wine Enthusiast, our 2018 Aquilini Family Blend encompasses three hand-picked varieties – a delicious combination of pleasure from the Cab, lushness from the Merlot and bounce from the Petit Verdot.

68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot 8% Petit Verdot. Aged 26 months in New French Oak.

WINEMAKER NOTES

Our 2018 Aquilini Family Blend received the same care and winemaking treatments as our Cabernet Sauvignon. As we do for all our wines, we make several harvest passes to ensure the grapes are picked only when perfectly ripe, with grapes for the Family Blend all handpicked. Our winemakers choose barrels that would imbue the wine with charm, elegance, and an overall softer profile than its big brother, Cabernet Sauvignon. For 2018, a greater amount of Merlot was added to soften the structure and provide greater generosity to the wine; a touch of Petit Verdot adds further complexity and spice to the Family Blend. Though designed for earlier consumption than the flagship
Cabernet Sauvignon, the Family Blend will age gracefully; in fact, it possesses the capacity to reward the patientconsumer over a ten year or  longer aging curve.

TASTING NOTES

By adding more Merlot than prior vintages, the 2018 Family Blend has a deliciously flamboyant character. Expressive aromas fill the glass with cherries, raspberries, crème brûlée and fresh garden herbs; subtle nuances of sweet oak spice, leather and graphite are layered beneath. The wine offers generous volume and texture with dusty tannins fading into a silky finish. Fresh and vibrant, this wine is enjoyable in its youth, yet will age gracefully over the next decade.