2018 BOND Quella

First made in 2006 and coming from more sandy, coarser soils, the 2018 Quella is incredibly exotic, with red and black fruits, wildflowers, sandalwood, candied violets, and flowery incense notes as well as medium to full body, a layered, ultra-fine, pure mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a great finish. It's incredibly elegant and polished in 2018, with a chalky minerality as well as gorgeous complexity and length. It's another 2018 that has plenty of up-front charm and accessibility yet is going to age gorgeously for 20-30 years.

Quella is a derivation of the German word for a pristine source or an artesian aquifer.   Quella originates from a 9-acre site located in Spring Valley, in the eastern hills above the heart of the Napa Valley.  The site is an ancient riverbed composed of cobble and rocks interwoven with pockets of tufa (volcanic ash) that were uplifted during the last volcanic activity in the area.  This site is steeply sloped facing south-west.  The elevation of the vineyard is between 433 and 595 feet. A bit more obviously Cabernet Sauvignon on the nose and in the glass. Precise, refined, firm tannins and lovely oak allied with an almost perfect combination of dark currant fruit and spicy acidity. Subtle, brooding, all the components in place for a great future. (AWH)

The 2018 Quella is rich, ample and beautifully resonant in the glass. There's terrific depth here and tons of class. Blood orange, game, licorice, tobacco, lavender and dried herbs give the Quella beguiling aromatic presence to play off its muscular, brooding personality. The 2018 needs a few years to soften, but it is already compelling, to say the least.