2018 Calluna Vineyards, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Chalk Hill AVA

Dear SommSelect Faithful:   Calluna Vineyards has been on our hit list for years—and for good reason. Their balanced Cabernet blends age beautifully, and proprietor David Jeffrey’s flagship “Estate” bottling is a powerful statement on why the Chalk Hill District is truly an underappreciated gem for Cabs. This wine delivers varietal typicity and restraint, yet at a fraction of the price of its counterparts just 20–30 minutes away in Napa Valley’s Diamond Mountain and Spring Mountain Districts.   Renowned wine critic and writer John Gilman captured this sentiment perfectly, comparing Calluna’s effort to Cathy Corison’s refined Napa Cabs and even the legendary First-Growth Bordeaux, Lafite Rothschild (96-point review below). That’s no small praise. And after tasting across several of Jeffrey’s recent releases at the winery, we wholeheartedly agree.    The price-to-quality ratio is extraordinary with this bottling!  Now, with the release of Calluna’s 2018 “Estate”, the wi