To Kalon Vineyard Co. HWC Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

To Kalon Vineyard Co. HWC Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a 750ml, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville, Napa Valley — the inaugural release from a single heritage clone block within the legendary To Kalon Vineyard. This debut bottling earned 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 97 points from James Suckling, with just 460 cases produced.

Quick Facts: ABV: Not disclosed  |  Origin: Oakville, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2018 (Inaugural Release)  |  Producer: To Kalon Vineyard Company  |  Winemaker: Andy Erickson

Production & Heritage

The HWC (Heritage Wine Clone) bottling draws from a single block within To Kalon planted to a heritage clone of Cabernet Sauvignon that yields particularly small berries and clusters — vines originally planted by Robert Mondavi, who was drawn to To Kalon by the depth and richness of wines he made from the vineyard in the 1960s. Winemaker Andy Erickson fermented and aged this wine in 100% new French oak, with four additional months of barrel time beyond the estate's standard program, lending a high level of polish and a silky finish. As the inaugural vintage of the HWC program, just 460 cases were produced, capturing what multiple critics called the best attributes of the warm yet balanced 2018 growing season.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Black raspberry, cassis, and ripe strawberry fruits lead, followed by layers of flowers, spicy incense, sweet tobacco, and roses. A thread of dark chocolate weaves through, adding richness to the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is pure and dense, with cassis and dark chocolate giving way to a blockbuster mid-palate packed with black currant, fig, blackberry, and black cherry fruit paste. A loamy, mineral-laced structure grounds the wine's considerable richness, while creamy, round tannins provide velvety texture without weight.

Finish: Long and smoldering, with lingering chestnut, tobacco, and dark fruit. The extra barrel aging contributes a polished, silky quality that carries through to the very end.

How to Drink HWC Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine deserves the full ritual: decant for at least an hour and serve at cellar temperature in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass to let the aromatics fully unfold. Neat and undiluted is the only appropriate serve — a wine of this concentration and complexity rewards patient, attentive sipping.

Best For

• Cellaring for a special milestone — the inaugural vintage status adds long-term collectability
• Gifting a serious Napa Valley Cabernet collector
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of elite To Kalon vineyard wines
• Commemorating a landmark dinner or celebration with a rare, small-production bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HWC Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? It delivers a dense, layered profile of cassis, black currant, dark chocolate, and fig, framed by velvety tannins and a long, tobacco-tinged finish. Despite its concentration, the wine shows remarkable freshness and balance rather than heaviness.

How does HWC compare to Schrader Cellars Heritage Clone Cabernet Sauvignon? Both wines are sourced from heritage clone Cabernet Sauvignon blocks within To Kalon Vineyard, making them among the most direct comparisons in Napa Valley. The HWC is produced by the vineyard company itself under winemaker Andy Erickson, while Schrader is crafted by Thomas Rivers Brown — each winemaker imparting a distinct stylistic signature on the same raw material.

Is HWC good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a wine built for contemplative drinking, with enough density, complexity, and textural polish to reward slow, focused attention over the course of an evening.

Where is HWC Cabernet Sauvignon made? It is produced by the To Kalon Vineyard Company from a single heritage clone block within the historic To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, Napa Valley, California. The vineyard is one of the most storied sites in American winemaking, with plantings dating back to the 19th century.

What foods pair well with HWC Cabernet Sauvignon? Grilled prime ribeye benefits from the wine's tannic structure and dark fruit concentration. Braised short ribs with a red wine reduction echo its layered richness. Aged Comté or Gruyère complement the tobacco and chocolate notes. Roasted lamb rack with herbs bridges the wine's savory and fruit elements. Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa tones on the finish.

What sizes does HWC Cabernet Sauvignon come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, consistent with most ultra-premium Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings.

Is HWC Cabernet Sauvignon worth the price? It positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, justified by its single-block heritage clone sourcing, inaugural vintage status, 460-case production, and near-perfect critical scores from Jeb Dunnuck (98 points) and James Suckling (97 points).

Why HWC Cabernet Sauvignon?

This is the first wine ever released under the To Kalon Vineyard Company's own label from a single heritage clone block — vines Robert Mondavi himself planted after recognizing To Kalon's extraordinary potential in the 1960s. With 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck and only 460 cases produced, the 2018 inaugural vintage sits among the most coveted new releases from one of California's most revered vineyard sites. Andy Erickson's decision to extend barrel aging by four months in 100% new French oak yielded a wine that multiple critics described as balancing blockbuster concentration with remarkable freshness and purity. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking a direct, unfiltered expression of To Kalon's heritage genetics, this bottling represents an origin story that may never be replicated at this scale.