Churchview Limited Release St Johns Cabernet Malbec Merlot Petit Verdot 2018

Winemaking and Drinking

Churchview Limited Release “St. John’s” 2018: A Bordeaux style Blend Rooted in Landscape and Vintner Passion

The Churchview “St. John’s” blend of 2018 carves out a distinguished identity, pairing Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot in a manner both elegant and approachable. Though fictional, the wine reflects a coherent stylistic vision deeply tied to place and purpose: rich, structured, and balanced.

Origins and Terroir

Conceived by small scale producers experimenting with Bordeaux varieties on a sheltered hillside vineyard with limestone rich soils, the “St. John’s” block is planted to maximize depth and complexity. The vines are spaced tightly to limit vigor, restricting yield and concentrating flavor in each cluster. The 2018 season featured warm, even ripening with cool nights during September and October allowing tannins to mature gracefully while preserving bright acids. Wild yeasts guided fermentation in small stainless vats, followed by aging in mostly seasoned oak barrels, achieving subtler wood influence and emphasis on fruit purity.

Tasting Notes

Visually, the wine presents a deep garnet core with ruby reflections at the rim. On the nose, lifted aromas of blackcurrant, plum jam, and dark cherry unfold alongside graphite, forest floor, a touch of mint leaf, and subtle violet perfume. The entry on the palate is generous: dense black fruit layered with fine dusty tannins and mid palate structure from Merlot’s plushness and Petit Verdot’s spice. Malbec adds a plush violet lift and hint of cocoa. Acid sits in perfect equilibrium supporting the wine without overwhelming. A mineral streak and gentle cedar echo toward the finish, which stretches for nearly a full minute with residual dark fruit and spice.

The Churchview Limited Release “St. John’s” Cabernet‑Malbec‑Merlot‑Petit Verdot 2018 thus stands as a quintessential example of a Bordeaux style approach transplanted to a temperate hillside terroir delivering depth, balance, and nuance worthy of attention from collectors and connoisseurs seeking character driven blends.