GAEA Cellar journal
2018 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon blend

Jericho Canyon · Calistoga

Good Chit

Cabernet Sauvignon blend

In bottle Last updated July 2026

A Jericho Canyon Cabernet designed around texture. Barrel fermentation and two years in new French oak helped bond the young tannins before a restrained Merlot and Cabernet Franc finish.

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Vintage2018
FruitCabernet Sauvignon blend
SourceJericho Canyon · Calistoga
VesselNew French oak
Scale95% Cabernet · 5% finishing blend

Wine highlights

95 / 5 Cabernet to finishing blend
2 years New French oak
Barrel Fermented and aged
Good Chit Magnum label

01 / Progress

The wine,
step by step.

  1. Fruit

    Jericho Canyon Cabernet

    The fruit came from the Jericho Canyon area in Calistoga, a source whose wines reward patient maturation.

    Calistoga
  2. Method

    Barrel fermentation and élevage

    Fermentation and aging in new French oak were used to integrate early tannins and build a silkier mouthfeel.

    24 months
  3. Blend

    A measured five-percent lift

    Merlot and Cabernet Franc made up the final 5%, preserving the Cabernet core while rounding the finished wine.

    5%

02 / Tasting record · Cellar record

“Silky, fruit-forward, aromatic, and gently spiced.”

The wine was built to be pleasant both on its own and at the table, with barrel fermentation helping the tannins settle into a balanced finish.

Wine profile

Mouthfeel
Silky
Fruit
Balanced and aromatic
Finish
Spiced
Keep in the record

Preserve the story of the Good Chit magnum and add a current bottle tasting when the next one is opened.

03 / Notes

What stays
in the record.

The method

Barrel fermentation was used as more than a vessel choice. It was intended to help the initial tannins bond early, producing a balanced wine with a silkier mouthfeel.

The named bottle

A 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon magnum in the family record carried the name Good Chit.