Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet blend at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. Awarded a remarkable 98+ points by Wine Advocate, with critic Joe Czerwinski calling it "more impressive than the winery's other offerings," this bottling stands as one of the most celebrated expressions from the 2018 vintage in all of Napa Valley.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, Rutherford, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Winery: Diamond Creek Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Diamond Creek Vineyards holds a singular place in California wine history as the first winery in the state to produce a wine made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and among the earliest to champion single-vineyard, terroir-driven bottlings — a philosophy that helped reshape the trajectory of Napa Valley. The Volcanic Hill vineyard covers eight acres on a south-facing slope composed of volcanic ash deposited from Mt. Konocti, planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Petit Verdot. The 2018 blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% Merlot, 8.7% Malbec, and 2.8% Petit Verdot, sustainably farmed and entirely hand-harvested.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with stunning, vibrant scents of wild blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries, and boysenberries. Deeper layers reveal violets, loam, graphite, sassafras, fragrant earth, and hints of fresh basil, with a distinctive mineral waft of crushed rocks reflecting the volcanic terroir.

Taste: Textural and enveloping from entry, the palate delivers a concentrated dark fruit core — cassis, pomegranate, and blackberry — interlaced with blood orange, cedar, cacao, and coffee. Medium to full-bodied with impeccable structure, the wine shows wonderful depth with a ripe core of blue and dark fruit flavors joined by violets and spices. Round, polished tannins carry the mid-palate with precision.

Finish: Lustrous tannins extend into a lasting, layered finish that lingers with notes of dark fruit, fragrant earth, and subtle vanilla pod. The persistence and complexity on the close reflect the volcanic soil's signature minerality.

How to Drink Volcanic Hill 2018

A wine of this caliber and structure is best served slightly below room temperature, around 62–65°F, in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass that allows the complex aromatics to open fully. Decanting for at least an hour — and up to two — is recommended to let the tightly wound tannins relax and the secondary aromas emerge. Given its age-worthiness, this is a bottle designed for contemplative drinking on its own terms rather than cocktail use.

Best For

• Cellaring for a milestone occasion five to fifteen years out
• Gifting a serious Napa Valley Cabernet collector
• Anchoring a tasting flight of single-vineyard Napa wines
• Pairing with a special dinner featuring prime cuts or roasted game

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Volcanic Hill 2018 taste like? It delivers a concentrated dark fruit profile — cassis, blueberry, pomegranate, and blackberry — layered with cacao, cedar, coffee, and violets, all supported by polished, lustrous tannins and a persistent mineral finish shaped by volcanic ash soils.

How does Volcanic Hill compare to Harlan Estate Cabernet? Both are benchmark Napa Valley Cabernets, but Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill is rooted in a more traditional, Bordeaux-influenced style with pronounced terroir expression from its volcanic soil, while Harlan Estate tends toward a richer, more opulent modern Napa profile. Diamond Creek also carries the historical distinction of pioneering single-vineyard Cabernet in California.

Is Volcanic Hill 2018 good for cellaring? With its firm tannic structure, impeccable balance, and 98+ point Wine Advocate rating, the 2018 Volcanic Hill is built for extended cellaring and should continue to evolve beautifully over the next ten to twenty years.

Where is Volcanic Hill made? Diamond Creek Vineyards is located in Napa Valley's Rutherford area within Napa County, California. The Volcanic Hill vineyard itself sits on an eight-acre south-facing slope composed of volcanic ash deposited from Mt. Konocti.

What foods pair well with Volcanic Hill 2018? Grilled prime ribeye complements the wine's dark fruit richness and tannic grip. Braised short ribs with root vegetables echo its earthy depth. Roasted rack of lamb with herb crust mirrors the wine's basil and spice notes. Aged hard cheeses like Comté or Parmigiano-Reggiano balance the firm tannins. Dark chocolate desserts with a touch of sea salt highlight the cacao undertones.

What sizes does Volcanic Hill come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, and Diamond Creek has historically offered limited large-format bottles for select vintages.

Is Volcanic Hill 2018 worth the price? Volcanic Hill 2018 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley Cabernet, and the 98+ point Wine Advocate score places it among the top-rated wines of the vintage. For collectors of terroir-driven California Cabernet, its combination of pedigree, critical acclaim, and aging potential represents strong standing within its price class.

Why Volcanic Hill 2018?

Diamond Creek Vineyards helped define the very idea of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in California, and the Volcanic Hill bottling is arguably where that legacy is expressed most dramatically. The 2018 vintage earned 98+ points from Wine Advocate — the highest-rated wine in the Diamond Creek lineup that year — confirming the unique contribution of volcanic ash terroir to the wine's mineral complexity and structural poise. With its blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon supported by Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, all sustainably farmed and hand-harvested, this is a wine that speaks to place first and winemaking ambition second. Few Napa Cabernets carry this kind of historical weight alongside this level of critical recognition.