Illustrious Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

If we could name the two wineries that made this premium Cabernet, one in Rutherford, the other in Calistoga, it'd be out the door in a flash. But we can't - that was the proviso for bagging the wine at such a great price. It was made in a year flagged as "a dream vintage" too – 2018 was a little cooler than usual, which has produced beautifully balanced wines that'll age magnificently, if you can resist drinking them! Illustrious bears all the hallmarks of a great Napa Valley wine – dense blackcurrant with superb ripeness, a hint of liquorice and vanilla scented oak, underpinned by lovely chewy tannins. The perfect mate for a rare steak, roast lamb with garlic or a rich casserole. It's still very youthful, so for now it's best decanted.