Hundred Acre Dark Ark

Dark Ark is a selection of barrels from the ARK Vineyard that were bottled separately. It comes from a pre-blending selection of barrels that were notably denser and more powerful than the others this vintage. Some of these were blended into the single-vineyard Ark label, but when their contribution to the blend began to detract from the essence of that wine, the remaining barrels were bottled separately, and the wine dubbed "Dark Ark.”

Winemaker notes

2016: The “dark expression of ARK Vineyard" continues with the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Dark Ark. Deep garnet-black, the nose is profoundly earthy/meaty, slowly revealing beguiling notes of damp soil, truffles and crushed rocks, before giving way to a core of creme de cassis, black cherry compote and fruitcake with wafts of beef drippings and wild fungi. Full-bodied, rich and oh-so-earthy in the mouth, the palate delivers layers of black fruit preserves, beautifully offset by a lively backbone and velvety tannins, finishing epically long and layered. There is something hauntingly cerebral and yet satisfyingly visceral about this vintage—a singular experience!

2016

Wine Advocate 100: The “dark expression of Ark Vineyard" continues with the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Dark Ark. Deep garnet-black, the nose is profoundly earthy/meaty, slowly revealing beguiling notes of damp soil, truffles and crushed rocks, before giving way to a core of crème de cassis, black cherry compote and fruitcake with wafts of beef drippings and wild fungi. Full-bodied, rich and oh-so-earthy in the mouth, the palate delivers layers of black fruit preserves, beautifully offset by a lively backbone and velvety tannins, finishing epically long and layered. There is something hauntingly cerebral and yet satisfyingly visceral about this vintage—a singular experience!

2018

Wine Independent 100: The 2018 Dark Ark Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. Plum preserves, creme de cassis, Chinese five spice, lavender, iron ore, and menthol lead to wafts of tree bark and wild blueberries. The full-bodied palate is super fine-grained, with energetic tension leading to a long mineral finish. This is so youthful. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Wine Advocate 98+: The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dark Ark is a 100-case selection derived from Ark Vineyard barrels that were notably darker and denser than the rest. Loaded with black cherries, cassis and loam notes, it's full-bodied, a bit brooding but concentrated, rich and supple, with a long, velvety finish. A true powerhouse, it's clearly one of Hundred Acre's top 2018s.