2018 The Mascot Cabernet Sauvignon   

The Mascot is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon made from distinct hillside vineyards: specifically, the younger vines of Harlan Estate, BOND, and Promontory. Founded by Will Harlan, it began as a small, informal project shared among the family, the winemaking team, and a handful of close friends. Drawing fruit from recently replanted blocks within the vineyards, The Mascot reveals its distinguished pedigree while offering insight into the evolution of its parent properties: a youthful promise of their future.

Each of the three "parent" properties contributes components to The Mascot, and the winemaking teams - led by Cory Empting, Director of Winegrowing for the family domain - work collaboratively to weave together the final blend. Depending on the vintage, The Mascot is composed of 85-95% Cabernet Sauvignon, along with small quantities of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.

This vintage reveals itself first in the deep, brooding aromas of dark fruit, black tea, and herbal notes. The texture expands around a lifted structure, as powdery tannins gently resolve. This diffused, enigmatic softness is anchored on the mid-palate by a gratifying density, which prepares the senses for a flourish of hidden energy and vivid detail that illuminates the finish.