Bond Vecina 2021 750ML

Blackcurrants and blackberries with tree and bark aromas. Turns to graphite. Full-bodied with creamy, round tannins, but it’s very tight and compressed, giving a fine velvety texture to it. A persistent and thoughtful young wine. Drink after 2028.

It is a striking wine with a host of violet florals, crème de cassis, black cherry, and liquorice aromas. Super juicy fruit on the medium—to full-bodied palate is redolent of blackberry, black cherry, and plums. Burly tannins have a crisp edge and need time to soften. They counter the generosity of the wine, giving it a firm backbone. There's a fresh lift on the finish from a spine of bright, tingly acidity. Vecina is Bond's exceptional Oakville source within Vine Hill Ranch.

The 2021 Vecina turned out beautifully. It opens with a blast of dark fruit, bay leaf, sage, leather and menthol. This super-classic, bruising, old-school-inspired Cabernet Sauvignon needs a number of years to be at its best. In this tasting, the Vecina exudes notable vertical intensity and plenty of tannic heft. It a gorgeous wine from Vine Hill Ranch, one of the most distinguished vineyards in Oakville and all of Napa Valley, for that matter.

As always, the 2021 Vecina offers a darker style in its red and black fruits as well as classy notes of graphite, violets, and scorched earth-like minerality. It's medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years if you can, and it's going to drink well over the following two decades.