Venge Silencieux Cabernet Sauvignon (75cl, 14.8%)

Venge Silencieux is a full-bodied Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Venge Vineyards in Calistoga, bottled at 14.8% ABV in a 750ml format. The 2018 vintage blends 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Merlot from vineyard sites including Oakville, Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain and Coombsville. Production uses 100% gravity-flow winemaking, hand-picked clusters and a Pellenc sorting and destemming system, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks, concrete vessels and open-top barriques. The wine rests for 18 months in 65% new French oak. The nose shows concentrated sweet cassis and blackberry with roasted coffee, anise and barrel vanillin; the palate is dense and mouth-coating, with dark cherry, blackberry and black currant, dark chocolate, espresso and charred caramel; the finish is lengthy, with lingering mocha, anise and new French oak.