The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Étain is a powerful, muscular wine that speaks with booming authority. Blackberry, gravel, chocolate, spice and lavender are some of the many aromas and flavors that saturate the palate. Far from an easygoing 2018, the M. Étain is a brooding Cabernet that needs time in bottle to allow the formidable tannins to soften. It remains one of the most distinctive wines made in Nape Valley. Dollops of Merlot and Malbec from the back of the property round out the blend. There are 2,400 cases of the 2018, a large production within the context of Napa Valley for a wine of this level. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Delicious purity of fruit. Celia welch is the wine maker (same as scarecrow) and this shares many similarities to the 2012 M Etain by scarecrow. Nose of blueberry pie with blackberry liquor on the palate accompanied by sweet tobacco wrapped up in silky smooth tannins. Finish ends with a touch of toasted marshmallow. My hunch is this will be ideal drinking in a couple years when the tannins mellow just a touch. Delicious wine — 10 years ago
Bang/$ pretty great. Went up against M Etain, Camus SS, and PEter Michael...held its own. Keep open for a couple. Very very enjoyable. — 6 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I would invite you to find a bottle like this older & well stored 03, “The Sisters. “I would enjoy tasting this blind w/ Napa Cult wines & lovers. Then, watch their eyes open wide when I pulled off the brown bag. Many would call Colgin, Scarecrow, Harlan, Bond & the like etc.. I recently paid $50 for this 2003 at auction. That includes tax & auction fees. For vintage, they would call 10, 13 or 14. This is still youthful. Beautiful M+ somewhat rounded tannins, fruit buffet w/ dark pronounced spice. This has ten years plus left.
The palate is round, plush, phat fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, strawberries, purple fruits with blueberries. Dark, well pronounced spice, soft baking spices, sweet graphite, soft, fresh, tobacco notes, used leather warm, gray clay, river-stone, mocha, caramel notes, dry crushed rock, limestone marl, some dry top soil, dark, purple red fresh & withering florals, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, beautifully structured and elegant finish that lasts minutes falling on elegant earth & spice.
TRB made wine. Stunning!!!! — 9 months ago