Futo

5500

Stags Leap District, United States

2018

Vintage

Varietal

Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV

Peak 2030-2046

Where it is, June 2026

Approaching Peak: drinkable, but best years are ahead.

In May 2026, the 2018 Futo 5500 is approaching the beginning of its drinking window, which opens in 2025 and is just now becoming accessible. Eight years from harvest, the wine is in an early, transitional phase where the incredible concentration and structure are beginning to integrate without yet revealing the full depth of aromatic complexity that this wine is capable of. Experienced tasters who open a bottle today will find a wine of obvious and extraordinary quality, but one that requires two to three hours of decanting to show its best. The peak window of 2030 through 2046 represents the fullest expression of this magnificent Stags Leap District estate Cabernet. The hard decline is not projected until 2056, making this one of the most age-worthy wines in the Cellared catalog.

Related vintages

The ‘18 5500.

A statuesque, mineral-driven Stags Leap District estate Cabernet with incense, crushed rock, and black cherry depth built for 30-plus years of aging.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · approaching peak, 2026

Tasting note

Futo Wines is a small, family-owned Stags Leap District estate producing estate Cabernet Sauvignon of collector-level quality from its 5500 Conn Creek Road property, a name that has become the wine's signature designation. The 2018 is a statuesque, deeply complex wine that captures everything that makes the Stags Leap District special: the volcanic rocky soils that produce intense, mineral-driven Cabernet with naturally fine-grained tannins and the cooling influence of the afternoon Vaca Mountain breeze that preserves freshness and aromatic precision against the Napa warmth. The nose is immediately compelling: crushed rocks and incense provide a mineral, almost meditative foundation, above which black cherry and ripe spice emerge alongside leather and a cool menthol note that lifts the entire aromatic profile. Stone, pine needle, and bark add further complexity on the nose, giving the wine an unusual multi-dimensional aromatic character that goes well beyond simple fruit. On the palate the wine is rich, full-bodied, and concentrated with what can only be described as terrific balance: the considerable fruit weight is matched by ripe, well-integrated tannins and a freshness that carries the wine through a great finish of lingering forest floor, light chocolate, and wet earth complexity. Built for four to five years of bottle age minimum but with genuine thirty-plus year potential.

The 2018 vintage

The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley was a recovery from the difficult 2017 vintage and produced wines of outstanding quality, concentration, and balance. In the Stags Leap District, where the volcanic soils and cooling afternoon breezes create one of Napa's most distinctive mesoclimates, the 2018 conditions were particularly favorable, producing Cabernet Sauvignon of exceptional tannic finesse and aromatic complexity. Futo's single-estate approach meant the 2018 vintage expressed the full character of the property without the blending compromises of larger operations, resulting in a wine that distills Stags Leap District terroir with uncommon precision and intensity.

About Futo

Futo is a boutique Stags Leap District estate producing just one wine, the 5500, from its estate vineyard at 5500 Conn Creek Road. The estate's commitment to a single-vineyard, single-wine approach reflects a philosophy of maximum terroir expression and uncompromising quality that has built Futo's reputation rapidly among Napa's most discerning collectors. The winemaking team works with the estate's volcanic rocky soils and the District's natural cooling influence to produce Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary mineral intensity, structural finesse, and extraordinary longevity.

From the cellar: pair with

Dry-aged prime rib with bone marrow and horseradish

The wine's monumental concentration and long finish demand the richest possible red meat preparation, and the mineral menthol note plays well against the sharpness of horseradish.

Roasted rack of lamb with pine nut crust

The pine needle and forest floor notes in the wine create an unusual and compelling harmony with a pine nut herb crust on lamb.

Aged Napa Valley cheddar or sharp aged Gouda

The wine's considerable tannins and concentrated fruit require the fat and richness of aged hard cheese to achieve textural balance.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 17 to 18 degrees C (63 to 64 degrees F)
Decanting: Decant a minimum of 2 to 3 hours before serving; do not open before 2028 without very extended aeration.
Cellar Storage: 12 to 14 degrees C (54 to 57 degrees F)

Track this bottle Read the Stags Leap District, United States guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

What does 5500 refer to in the wine name?

5500 refers to the address of the Futo estate vineyard at 5500 Conn Creek Road in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. The estate produces only one wine, which bears this address as its name.

When should I open the 2018 Futo 5500?

The drinking window opened in 2025, but the peak window of 2030 through 2046 is where this wine will be most expressive. If opening before 2030, decant for a minimum of two to three hours.

How does Futo compare to other Stags Leap District Cabernets?

Futo is among the most intense and mineral-driven Stags Leap District estate Cabernets, reflecting the property's volcanic soils and the owner's single-vineyard, single-wine philosophy of maximum terroir expression.

How long will the 2018 Futo 5500 last in the cellar?

The hard decline is projected at 2056, giving the wine over three decades of cellaring potential from today. It is built for generational cellaring alongside the finest Napa estate wines.