2019 ANAKOTA HELENA DAKOTA VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON Anakota’s vineyards lie at the base of Mount St. Helena in the remote Knights Valley AVA, which cuts through the Mayacamas Mountains and receives cool breezes directly from the Pacific Ocean. 100-point winemaker Pierre Seillan believes that Knights Valley is one of the best places in the world to grow Cabernet Sauvignon and aims to create a style similar to Pauillac or Saint-Estèphe. The Helena Dakota Vineyard is a sloping 12-acre parcel that has produced powerful yet sophisticated wines over the decades. Structure, elegance, and ability to stand the test of time are all classic hallmarks of these wines. The outstanding 2019 vintage produced grapes with rich complexity, intense flavors, and supple opulence, resulting in a wine that shows beautifully now, and will continue to do so over its formidable lifespan. Additional Review: "Anakota changes its oak regimen based on what the vintage directs, and the 2019 vintage, with an above-average growing season and heat spikes in July, August, and September, commanded a higher use of new French oak. The fruit leans toward the purple end of the spectrum: think plums and blackberry jam. But fruit almost takes a backseat to the leather, bay leaf, and iron qualities of the aromas and flavours. Full-bodied and structured, this is a wine with presence but still a freshness that makes it approachable in its youth. There are layers to this wine that keep bringing me back for another taste." 96 Points