2018 Bodacious

They say only six cowboys were able to ride Bodacious (The World’s Most Dangerous Bull) for longer than eight seconds. But a lot can happen in eight seconds. In our arena, it’s the time it takes to bring your palate on a wild ride, Wine Country style. (Go ahead and take a sip, we’ll count it out for you).

If you’re looking to gain some style points from the judges, let us teach you a thing or two about making this year’s bottle of Bodacious. Saddle up; we’re taking you down to the cellar.

50% Petit Verdot, 50% Malbec

Vintage – AKA: What We Were Working With
The 2018 vintage in Napa Valley earned a perfect score from the judges, due to a long, steady, near ideal growing season with moderate temperatures and no significant heat spikes. Harvest was later than in recent years, with continued mild weather through the fall that allowed grapes to gradually ripen and develop both sweetness and acidity. It was a mighty fine growing season, yielding wines of intensity, concentration, and balance.

Winemaking – AKA: What We Made of It
Each lot of hand-picked grapes was sorted, crushed, and quickly moved to stainless steel tanks where the fruit underwent a 4-day cold soak to extract color and flavor prior to fermentation. Post-fermentation the wine underwent an 8-day extended maceration to further the extraction of color, tannin, and flavor from the grape skins. The wine was pressed off the skins, and the lots were placed in small French and American oak barrels to age for 18 months.

Tasting Notes – AKA: What to Look For
Let this wine take your palate for a ride and you’ll find fearless flavors of wild black currant, warm cherry pie, and mouth-watering boysenberry hanging alongside tasty notes of mocha, sarsaparilla, sage brush and applewood. The high-spirited acidity keeps this wine fresh and balanced, while the rich tannins bring the adventure to a long, smooth finish. The 2018 Bodacious is one to tangle with: daring yet approachable and just right for enjoying today with your fellow wranglers.

93 POINTS – Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2018 Red Blend Bodacious checks in as equal parts Malbec and Petit Verdot, all from the Napa Valley. A big, inky, ruby/purple color is followed by rich notes of ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, dark chocolate, scorched earth, and graphite. With sweet tannins, a dense, concentrated, medium to full-bodied style, and nicely integrated oak, this ripe, sexy 2018 can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years.” - January 2021