Bond Quella Red 2021

The BOND Quella Red 2021 is a highly sought-after, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the esteemed Bond Estates in Napa Valley, part of Bill Harlan's celebrated portfolio. The wine's name, "Quella," meaning "pristine source" in German, refers to its unique vineyard, a steeply sloped, southwest-facing ancient riverbed composed of cobblestones and volcanic ash. This distinctive terroir is believed to contribute to the wine's characteristic minerality and often an ethereal quality.

For the 2021 vintage, the BOND Quella is distinguished by its remarkable purity, precision, and a sophisticated balance of fruit and savory notes. Critics consistently describe a captivating aromatic profile featuring dark fruits like blackcurrant, black cherry, and blue fruits, elegantly interwoven with hints of graphite, pine nuts, cedar, sagebrush, and licorice, along with subtle mineral undertones and occasional floral or chocolate nuances. On the palate, it presents as a medium to full-bodied wine with a seamless, fluid texture and firm yet polished tannins. The flavors mirror the nose, offering a rich dark fruit experience that builds through the mid-palate, complemented by notes of clove and earth, culminating in a lingering, mineral-driven finish.

This wine is crafted for longevity, possessing a structure and intensity that suggests significant evolution and integration with several years, or even decades, of bottle aging. The 2021 BOND Quella has garnered exceptional praise from leading wine critics, consistently achieving scores in the mid to high 90s, solidifying its reputation as a premier Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Score

98 points, James Suckling.