SLOAN Asterisk Proprietary Red Rutherford 2018

Procuring Sloan Estate wines is next to impossible. But not today, not here... ACME has ACCESS. With a limited annual production of 600 cases and 100-point scores by critics many times over, Sloan safeguards an ironclad mailing list reserved for the most elite and long-standing collectors. These wines are so rare and sought-after that they are not even featured on our website. Sloan’s wines exude elegance, beauty, and poise, and we are elated to share our cherished annual allocation from the epic 2018 vintage with our top clients.

Sloan Estate was founded in 1997 when Stuart Sloan purchased 40 acres of coveted land in the eastern hills of the Rutherford AVA, just above Auberge du Soleil. Sloan quickly put together an all-star team to help accomplish his goal of making one of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignons in all of Napa Valley. First, he hired famed Vineyard Manager David Abreu to plant just 13 acres of vines. The perfect blend of white tufa soil, a cool marine influence, and generous sun exposure forms the ideal site for growing fruit of distinct quality and crafting exceptional wines that are compelling expressions of these elements. Martha McClellan (Harlan, Levy & McClellan, Checkerboard) took over winemaking in 2004, and it became clear Sloan Estate's luscious, dense, and complex Bordeaux Blends were not to be taken lightly. Along with world-renowned consulting oenologist Michel Rolland, this A-list team has been responsible for handcrafting these epically exquisite and celebrated wines ever since. 

In 2004, Sloan debuted Asterisk Proprietary Red, which represents the second selection from the estate. Charming and bold, it is nearly equal proportions of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced under the same obsessive diligence and uncompromising standards as the Sloan Prop Red, the 2018 Asterisk is juicy and mouth-filling, delivering rich, fresh flavors of crème de cassis, mulberries, brambly herbs, chocolate, and toasted spices. While it holds the promise of aging potential, it is a splendidly inviting wine that is intended to satisfy the desire for instant gratification.