Magdalena 2016

By diligently employing strategic yield reductions and advanced vineyard technologies, Inwood produces a widely contrasting lineup of Cabernet Sauvignon wines, ranging from the Magellan, the least-ripe but longest-aging Pauillac style, to the Mericana, the ripest and earliest drinking Napa style. Sitting notably in the center is a more nuanced Margaux style Bordeaux blend, the Magdalena, crafted from four of the five Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Magdalena is less tannic than many Bordeaux styles can be, yet also less jammy and considerably more structured than many California styles. This wine displays the finest rosy perfume of Cabernet Sauvignon, the slightest hint of green pepper heat of optimally ripened Cabernet Franc, and a finessed and elegant mouthfeel. While our Magellan Bordeaux blend is big and brawny, the Magdalena version is far more subtle and nuanced, featuring alluring aromatics and a softer body that reveals its beauty seductively as it dances across your palate. This wine is made only in years when the fruit befits this style of production. The 2016 Magdalena will drink best in 2021-2024, but will cellar much longer.