From Diamond Creek Vineyards in California’s Napa Valley, the 2019 Volcanic Hill is a powerful and beautifully composed expression of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard, planted in 1968 on a south-facing hillside of pale, porous volcanic ash, occupies the estate’s warmest microclimate and consistently produces one of Diamond Creek’s most structured and long-lived wines. The 2019 opens with cassis, blackberry and dark plum, followed by layers of black tea, liquorice, graphite, cedar and scented earth. Rich and enveloping on the palate, it balances generous fruit with vibrant freshness and remarkably fine-grained tannins, finishing with impressive length and a subtle mineral edge. A small proportion of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot adds further depth and complexity. Still youthful and tightly wound, this is a classic Napa Cabernet built for the cellar, with the concentration and poise to evolve beautifully over many years.