2018 The 46 Cuvée

Owner Terry Hoage and his assistant winemaker, Phillip LaMontagne, crafted two highly successful sets of wines in 2017 and 2018 and each show the hallmarks of their vintages. While the 2017s here are, as might be expected, powerful and concentrated, they lack in no way for energy. I have a slight preference for the 2018s overall, as the fruit profiles lean to a fresher expression. While the ’17s should age well based on their depth and tannic structures, I also believe that the ’18s are solid cellar candidates because of their balance. There is extensive replanting going on in the 26-acre, organically farmed vineyard here as a consequence of plant virus, which means, for example, that 2018 was the last vintage Justin Smith, at Saxum, will make until the vines get back up to speed.