MACDONALD Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

(Oakville, Napa Valley, CA) $175

For pure hedonism and “aliveness,” the MACDONALD cabernet sauvignon is it. The wine’s luscious dark berry richness and savoriness is spine-tingling in its deliciousness. The soaring structure is nothing short of majestic. The utterly fine tannins are silk, and the wine has a superbly long finish. But what I love most about the MACDONALD is its purity and precision. There’s not a molecule out of place. No surprise then that the wine comes from part of the historic To Kalon vineyard, the most famous historic vineyard in Oakville. The vineyard (with vines dating back to 1954) and winery are owned by brothers Alex and Graeme MacDonald who are meticulous. Every vine is numbered, hand-tended and mapped by satellite. Graeme MacDonald has also painstakingly researched the history of To Kalon and the wines made from it.