Scattered Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Scattered Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml format. Scoring 91 points from Wine Enthusiast, this vintage draws on fruit sourced across multiple prized Napa sub-appellations, including Pope Valley, Oak Knoll District, and Rutherford, resulting in a deeply concentrated and structurally complex wine.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Winemakers: Derek Benham & Joel Aiken

Production & Heritage

Scattered Peaks sources its fruit from a carefully selected mosaic of Napa Valley vineyards — roughly 75% from the Usibelli vineyard in Pope Valley, with additional lots from Oak Knoll District (7.4%), Rutherford (6.8%), and other Napa Valley sites. Winemakers Derek Benham and Joel Aiken — Aiken being a veteran of over three decades at Beaulieu Vineyard — oversaw this vintage from vineyard selection through final blend. Following fermentation, the wine was racked into French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and a full 18 months of aging, building layered complexity and polished tannin structure.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with intense black and red fruit — blackberry and ripe plum — followed by threads of anise and violet. A darker undercurrent of cocoa and toasted oak develops as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is silky and immediately fruit-forward, delivering opulent black cherry and cassis at mid-palate. As the wine opens up, layers of black licorice, espresso, and dark chocolate emerge, supported by a firm yet supple tannin framework that gives the wine genuine structure without heaviness.

Finish: The finish is long and lingering, with vanilla and dark cocoa trailing behind fine, velvety tannins. A subtle espresso bitterness and echo of ripe dark fruit keep the palate engaged well after each sip.

How to Drink Scattered Peaks 2018

This Cabernet is best served at 60–65°F with 30 to 60 minutes of decanting to allow its layered aromatics to fully open. A structured wine of this caliber is built for sipping on its own, but it also has the depth and fruit intensity to anchor wine-forward mixed drinks. A classic Red Wine Sangria benefits from the dark fruit and spice this wine brings to the pitcher. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) takes on surprising sophistication when built with a wine this concentrated. A New York Sour — whiskey sour topped with a float of red wine — gains richness and color from a Cabernet with this much structure.

Best For

• Hosting a Napa-focused wine dinner at home
• Gifting a Cabernet Sauvignon enthusiast exploring multi-appellation blends
• Pairing with a prime steak or holiday roast
• Cellaring for short-term development through 2026–2028

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Scattered Peaks 2018 taste like? Scattered Peaks 2018 delivers opulent black cherry and cassis layered with black licorice, espresso, dark chocolate, and violet, all framed by fine velvety tannins. The overall impression is deeply concentrated fruit balanced by polished structure and a long vanilla-tinged finish.

How does Scattered Peaks 2018 compare to Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are multi-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernets, but Scattered Peaks draws heavily from Pope Valley fruit and undergoes malolactic fermentation and aging entirely in French oak for 18 months, lending a silkier tannin profile. Louis M. Martini tends toward a broader use of American and French oak and a slightly more rustic, spice-driven character by comparison.

Is Scattered Peaks 2018 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this wine's velvety tannins, concentrated dark fruit, and layered complexity make it well-suited for contemplative sipping, especially after a brief decant to let the aromatics unfold.

Where is Scattered Peaks 2018 made? Scattered Peaks 2018 is produced in Napa Valley, California, with fruit sourced primarily from the Usibelli vineyard in Pope Valley, plus additional parcels from Oak Knoll District, Rutherford, and other Napa Valley sites.

What foods pair well with Scattered Peaks 2018? Grilled ribeye steak matches the wine's tannic structure and dark fruit weight. Braised short ribs complement its licorice and cocoa notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echoes its vanilla and toasted oak character. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the wine's cocoa and espresso undertones. Herb-crusted lamb chops align with its savory, violet-edged aromatics.

What sizes does Scattered Peaks 2018 come in? Scattered Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Scattered Peaks 2018 worth the price? Positioned as a mid-premium Napa Valley Cabernet, Scattered Peaks 2018 delivers multi-appellation complexity and an 18-month French oak aging program that competes favorably with wines priced well above its tier — underscored by its 91-point Wine Enthusiast rating.

Why Scattered Peaks 2018?

What separates this bottling from the broader field of Napa Cabernets is the deliberate blending of fruit from distinct sub-appellations — Pope Valley, Oak Knoll, and Rutherford — each contributing different dimensions of fruit density, acidity, and tannic texture. Winemaker Joel Aiken's three-plus decades of Napa experience, much of it spent at Beaulieu Vineyard, inform a precise approach to extraction and oak management. The 91-point score from Wine Enthusiast and strong community ratings on CellarTracker (averaging 90 points across 16 reviews) confirm that the 2018 vintage represents a high-water mark for the label. For drinkers seeking a structured, cellar-worthy Napa Cabernet with genuine appellation character, this wine earns serious consideration.