2017 Wallis Seraphim Cabernet Sauvignon

Awarded 98 points and a Double Gold medal.

This is the Wallis Family’s hotrod Cabernet from Diamond Mountain and it definitely has the horsepower for the role. Rich and dense, with impressive depth, this is a darkly fruited Cabernet that has that rare combination of power and elegance. Notes of ripe cassis and black fruits dominate, with a touch of wood spice and ample tannin for the long haul, though drinking exceptionally well at this young stage. A Platinum Award winner at the 2019 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Awarded a Double Gold medal and Best of Class.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim has a masculine bouquet of black plums, singed cedar, chocolate, and currants, with plenty of spice developing with time in the glass. It’s rich, medium to full-bodied, has good concentration, and just a backward, closed style. Nevertheless, it has terrific purity, a great mid-palate, and is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age.

A dense and layered young red with velvety, chewy tannins and lots of terracotta and blackberry character. Full and juicy. Needs time to soften. Very well done for the vintage. Better after 2021.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Seraphim offers a bit more complete sense of balance than the straight Cabernet bottling. Here the flavors lean more into the red/purplish end of the spectrum. Red cherry jam, pomegranate, cinnamon, cedar and mocha linger on the intense, tannic finish. I would prefer to drink the 2017 sooner rather than later.

This is a 100% varietal wine from the burly mountain appellation, boldly conceived and grippy in structure. Dusty plum, tobacco and clove accent a full-bodied grasp of length and breadth, the finish splendid in dark chocolate.