Trefethen HaLo 2018
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Guide
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Suckling
James
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
HaLo, Trefethen's most rare and beloved Cabernet Sauvignon, is smooth and fresh. Aromas of ripe raspberry with notes of pepper, bay leaf, and a touch of sasparilla. On the palate, this is a dark, dense wine, with layers of plum and raspberry, and notes of baking spices and tobacco. The finish is sustained and powerful.
This robust wine pairs exceptionally well with highly marbled steak, like Winery Chef Chris’ Tomahawk Ribeye. This cut of meat is both dramatic and well-balanced and enhances the peppery berry notes of this wine, while the fat elongates its finish. Throw in the roasted potatoes and spinach to round out this dish, and this pairing will take your palate over the moon!
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Once again taking its accustomed place as one of the very finest Cabernets of the year, the latest edition of Trefethen’s flagship HaLo offering manages to be both sumptuous and sophisticated at once with fruity depth and lovely oak to spare. It is already a wonderfully complex wine that smacks of black olives, a wisp of lavender, loam and a touch of crème caramel, but it is juicy, perfectly ripened black cherries and cassis that govern its every turn. It is an altogether delicious, show-stopping glassful even now despite being structured to age for a very long time, but those succumbing to its early charms would be wise to hide a bottle or two away lest they miss the added pleasures that only time can bring.
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James Suckling
A very big style for this wine, with dense and rich fruit, powerful wood and tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs time to mellow, but those who like big wines will enjoy it. Better after 2024.
Other Vintages
2017-
Guide
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Guide
Connoisseurs'
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Suckling
James
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Guide
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Suckling
James
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Guide
Connoisseurs'
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Guide
Connoisseurs'
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Enthusiast
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.