The 2018 Taplin Terra 9 is a wine of exceptional complexity, mature Napa Valley grandeur, and the kind of fully developed multi-varietal blend character that reveals the depth of vision and winemaking ambition behind the Taplin estate's most expressive and considered red wine. "Terra 9" — a name that evokes both the land and the meticulous selection process behind this blend of nine distinct vineyard blocks or varieties — represents Taplin's commitment to crafting a red wine of layered complexity and seamless integration that transcends the constraints of a single-varietal designation. Now several years into its drinking window, the 2018 Terra 9 has reached a stage of magnificent completeness: the 2018 California vintage, warm and generous, provided outstanding natural concentration and aromatic richness that has developed with exceptional grace in the bottle. Aromas of ripe dark plum, blackberry, cassis, sandalwood, warm baking spice, dark chocolate, mocha, and a developing earthy complexity of real depth and interest lead to a full-bodied, seamlessly integrated palate of superb concentration, fine-grained tannins, and a finish of extraordinary length and satisfaction.