Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley Helena Dakota Vineyard 2019

99 points Erin Brooks (Wine Advocate): "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard explodes with violets, aniseed and cast iron, with a deep core of crushed blueberries and black cherries, evolving continually with each approach to the glass. The palate is stunning with its intensity and lift, pure fruits, pixelated tannins and focused acidity that drives the very long finish. Its exceptional balance and super pure flavors, plus that characteristic streak of iron that appears across the Anakota portfolio, really take the 2019 Helena Dakota to the next level. 793 cases were made. Drink: 2024-2044. (Jul 2022)"

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota is compact with menthol oils, sage, dark iron-rich earth, and cassis. The palate is savory, with tightly wound structure, and delivers dried herbs, fresh fig, violets, and scorched earth. Allow for a few years in cellar and drink Drink: 2025-2045. (Aug 2022)"

97 points James Suckling: "The essence of cabernet sauvignon on the nose with cassis and fresh flowers. Full-bodied with orange peel, blackberry, cassis and hints of rose stems. Creamy and powdery tannins. Needs time to come together. Try after 2026, but already beautiful. (4/7/22)"

96+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2019 Helena Dakota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. It tears out of the glass with wildly expressive scents of creme de cassis, dried sage, iron ore, and cedar chest, giving way to notions of crushed rocks and black truffles. Full-bodied, the palate has a sturdy structure of ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness supporting the tightly knit, muscular layers, finishing long and minerally. 1,379 cases were made. The vineyard here is now 22 years old. Located at the most eastern side of Sonoma, in Knights Valley, near Peter Michael estate, a gap allows the cooling wind to come here from the Pacific Ocean. Drink: 2025-2042. (Jun 2022)"