Another awesome blend by Russell, the 2018 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, and it’s one of the more overtly sexy, opulent wines in the lineup. Offering a crazy perfume of lifted red and blue fruits, spring flowers, and incense, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a supple, seamless, mouth-filling texture, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Tasting like a great Saint-Emilion on steroids, it’s ideal for drinking over the coming 10-15 years.

The 2018 Red Wine Sugarloaf Mountain is magnificent. Soaring in its intensity, the 2018 exudes tremendous concentration and a level of aromatic breadth that carries through to the finish. All the elements come together so effortlessly. The 2018 is a must-have for Bevan fans.

Sugarloaf is a relatively new, cooler site in south Napa, above a quarry. It usually allows for a longer hang time, often lending a minty or herbal lift to this label. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain—a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot—is a little closed to begin, offering glimpses at chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and Provence herbs notes before bursting into vibrant scents of redcurrant jelly, wild blueberries, black raspberries and coffee grounds plus and hint of pencil shavings. The full-bodied palate is charged with electric red, black and blue fruited vivacity, framed by finely grained tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and minerally. This gorgeous wine has so much infectious energy, it practically tingles on your tongue! 1,042 cases were made. Readers may want to note that Bevan did not make this label in 2017.