Hourglass HGIII Proprietary Blend (2018) [3L bottle]

Critical Acclaim

Readers looking for an introduction to the wines from this great estate should check out the 2018 HG III, which is always a more Merlot-dominated blend. The 2018 reveals a deep purple/ruby hue to go with a juicy, endearing, up-front style that carries lots of blackcurrant and black cherry fruits, hints of chocolate, spice, and dried herbs, medium to full body, and a plush, sexy, yet beautifully balanced profile. It's going to evolve for 15 years and is a rock-solid bottle of wine.

The 2018 HG III is a delicious entry-level wine from Hourglass. Juicy dark cherry, spice, leather and cedar all run through this racy, open-knit Merlot-based blend. It’s easy to look past the HG III here given the level of the other wines, but that's a mistake, as the 2018 is fabulous and a great value too.

The 2018 HG III is made from a blend of Merlot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with open-knit scents of plum preserves, stewed black cherries and boysenberries with hints of spice cake, cumin seed and aniseed. Medium-bodied, the palate is delicately played and refreshing, featuring loads of savory accents to the juicy black fruits, finishing softly textured and spicy.