Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2018

Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2018 is a mountain-estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Pride Mountain Vineyards (750ml, 14.5% ABV). Rated 91 points by Jeb Dunnuck and carrying a CellarTracker community average of 91.8 points across 72 reviews, this vintage showcases the classical balance and concentration that high-elevation Spring Mountain fruit delivers in a warm year.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Spring Mountain, Napa Valley / Sonoma County, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Winery: Pride Mountain Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Pride Mountain Vineyards sits at 2,100 feet elevation on the crest of the Mayacamas Range, with the Napa-Sonoma county line literally running through its estate. All 85 acres of vineyard are south-facing, positioned above the fog line, receiving daylong sunshine tempered by cool mountain air — conditions that allow slow, steady ripening rarely found even on Spring Mountain. The 2018 Cabernet is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 5% Merlot, fermented in stainless steel for 12 to 30 days and aged 18 to 19 months in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new. The fruit composition breaks down as roughly 70% Napa Valley and 30% Sonoma County, reflecting the estate's unique cross-appellation geography.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated blackcurrant and black cherry, layered with baking spice — cinnamon, vanilla — before shifting into dried tobacco, bouquet garni, and a trace of cedar. Given time in the glass, graphite and light smoke emerge underneath.

Taste: The entry is ripe and generous, led by black plum and blackberry fruit, but a vein of crushed bay leaf and wild herbs keeps the mid-palate from feeling heavy. The Petit Verdot contributes structural intensity while the Merlot rounds the blend, delivering what critics have described as tremendous balance — super-ripe concentration with genuine lightness of touch. Sandalwood and graphite notes develop toward the peak.

Finish: Medium-long, with cedar, forest floor, and light leather trailing behind the fruit. Fine-grained tannins hold their shape without turning grippy, and a mineral edge lingers cleanly.

How to Drink Pride Cabernet 2018

This mountain Cabernet is at its best served neat in a large-bowled glass at around 62–65°F; a 30-minute decant helps open the herbal and spice layers without flattening the fruit. While primarily a sipping wine, it can anchor several wine-forward cocktails: a Cabernet Reduction Spritz using a small pour with sparkling water and a rosemary sprig, which echoes its herbal aromatics; a classic Kalimotxo, where the wine's fruit density and acidity stand up to cola better than lighter reds; or a New York Sour, where the wine float benefits from the blackcurrant and graphite character layered over bourbon and citrus.

Best For

• Cellaring alongside other premium 2018 Napa vintages for mid-term aging (5–10 years from vintage)
• Gifting a collector who values mountain-grown California Cabernet
• Pairing with a special-occasion steak or lamb dinner
• Side-by-side tasting with other Spring Mountain District Cabernets to explore terroir differences

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pride Cabernet 2018 taste like? It leads with ripe blackcurrant, black plum, and black cherry fruit, supported by crushed herbs, cedar, graphite, and baking spice. The overall impression is medium-bodied and classically balanced rather than heavy or overly extracted.

How does Pride Cabernet 2018 compare to Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are premium Spring Mountain District Cabernets grown at elevation, but Pride's estate straddles the Napa-Sonoma county line and benefits from south-facing exposure above the fog line, which tends to yield slightly riper, more concentrated fruit. Spring Mountain Vineyard's estate sits lower on the mountain and often produces a leaner, more austere profile by comparison.

Is Pride Cabernet 2018 good for sipping neat? Yes — its balance of concentrated fruit, fine tannins, and herbal complexity makes it a strong candidate for drinking on its own, particularly after a short decant to let the aromatics fully develop.

Where is Pride Cabernet 2018 made? It is produced entirely from estate-grown fruit at Pride Mountain Vineyards, located at 2,100 feet elevation on the crest of the Mayacamas Range where Napa Valley and Sonoma County meet on Spring Mountain.

What foods pair well with Pride Cabernet 2018? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's blackcurrant depth and fine tannins. Braised lamb shanks with rosemary echo its herbal aromatics. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese match the graphite and cedar notes. Mushroom risotto picks up the forest-floor character on the finish. Dark chocolate with 70% cacao pairs with the wine's baking spice and plum fruit.

What sizes does Pride Cabernet 2018 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Pride Cabernet 2018 worth the price? Pride Mountain Cabernet positions as a premium Napa Valley estate wine, and the 2018 vintage — with its 91-point Jeb Dunnuck rating and strong community scores — represents solid value within the competitive Spring Mountain District category, where pricing can escalate sharply for comparable mountain fruit.

Why Pride Cabernet 2018?

Pride Mountain Vineyards occupies a genuinely uncommon piece of California geography: 85 estate acres at 2,100 feet with south-facing exposure above the fog line, straddling two of the state's most important wine counties. The 2018 vintage captures what that terroir does best — delivering concentrated mountain fruit without sacrificing freshness or balance. Backed by a 91-point score from Jeb Dunnuck and consistent community praise averaging nearly 92 points, this release holds its ground among more expensive Spring Mountain peers. For anyone building a cellar of age-worthy Napa Cabernet, the 2018 Pride is a serious, well-documented benchmark.