2018 Tara Bella Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley

A bold, terroir-driven Russian River Valley Cabernet Sauvignon crafted in tiny quantities from a sustainably farmed, single-clone estate vineyard.

2018 Tara Bella Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley

Name: 2018 Tara Bella Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley
Brand: Tara Bella Winery
SKU: TARABRCS18
Price: 80.0 USD
Availability: InStock

A bold, terroir-driven Russian River Valley Cabernet Sauvignon crafted in tiny quantities from a sustainably farmed, single-clone estate vineyard.

Retail $80

$80

/ bottle

Gold Medal at San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
"Extraordinary" 97pt Vintage~ Jeb Dunnuck
21-Year-Old Clone 4 Mendoza Estate Vines
Only 250 Cases Produced Annually
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2018 Tara Bella Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley

$80

/ bottle

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About The Wine

Tara Bella Winery & Vineyards is a family-owned micro-producer tucked into the rolling hills of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley — a region celebrated for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, where growing Cabernet Sauvignon is a deliberate act of conviction.

Kevin and Wendy Morrow have been making wine together since 1986, and when they acquired the property in 2010, they inherited a six-acre estate vineyard already planted to two prized clones: Clone 4 (Mendoza) and Clone 7 (Wente). Kevin serves as both vineyard manager and winemaker, with Wendy and a close circle of friends forming the hands-on crew. Sustainable farming practices were embedded from day one — long before Sonoma County's formal pledge. Total annual production across all wines is around 500 cases, making every bottle a rare find.

The 2018 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is drawn exclusively from the Clone 4 (Mendoza) block on the west side of the estate — three acres of cool-climate vines that were the first planted on the property in 1997.

At just 250 cases produced, it represents the top of Tara Bella's lineup: a deliberately structured, terroir-expressive Cabernet that defies Russian River Valley convention.

The Reserve is aged in French oak, delivering a wine that balances the valley's natural freshness against the richness of estate-grown Clone 4 fruit. Earned a Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

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At A Glance

Varietal:: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:: Sonoma County
Sub-Appellation:: North Coast
Alcohol:: 14.0%
Size:: 750ml

TASTING NOTES

What's in the Glass

PAIRS WITH: Beef · Venison · Steak · Grilled · Burger

Mouthfeel & Acidity

Light Body Full Body

Low Acidity High Acidity

Soft Tannins Firm Tannins

Dry Sweet

Eye: Deep ruby-purple with good concentration and slight violet highlights at the rim.

Nose: Black and purple mixed fruits — dark cherry, cassis, and blackberry — interwoven with eucalyptus and cool-climate mint lift. Secondary notes of dark chocolate, forest floor, black pepper, fresh spice, and savory herbs add depth and complexity.

Palate: Dry and structured, with a soft entry that opens into layers of sour cherry skin, plum, and warm blackberry essence. Warm spice carries the mid-palate into a finish that is long and warming, with well-integrated oak showing as mocha and hazelnut coffee tones.

Drinking Window: Drinking well now; has the structure to continue developing through 2028–2030.

CRITIC REVIEWS

What the Critics Said

~ Gold Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

THE PRODUCER

Tara Bella Winery

Tara Bella Estate is a family-owned winery in California dedicated to crafting small-lot wines that showcase the character of their vineyards and the region's diverse terroir.

With a focus on careful vineyard management and hands-on winemaking, the estate produces balanced, expressive wines that emphasize purity of fruit, elegance, and a strong sense of place.