In 2021, Accendo Cellars, owned by the Araujo Family, produced a perfect 100-point Cabernet Sauvignon. Crafted by Nigel Kinsman, this very limited production second wine is comprised of barrel selections that didn’t quite fit when they were assembling the final blend for that 100-point masterpiece, offering incredible value and designed to showcase a more approachable expression of the vintage. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Laurea benefited from a superb growing season that yielded fruit of remarkable depth and concentration. It opens with an expressive and high-toned bouquet of black cherry, dark plum, and violets, accented by a subtle gravelly mineral undertone. On the palate, the wine is beautifully focused and energetic, layering rich blackberry and cassis with complex notes of cocoa powder and graphite. The structure is impeccably balanced, featuring fine-grained, silky tannins and vibrant acidity that drives the wine through a long, lifted finish.