Red Wines    Cabernet Sauvignon    Sonoma County    California   
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Date Printed: 5/22/2013
Martin Ray Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Martin Ray Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
 (search item no. 89882)
Wine & Spirits rating: 94 points
PRICE ON 5/22/2013: $35.99

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2009 Wine Enthusiast rating: 89 points
2007 Wine Enthusiast rating: 92 points
2005 Wine Enthusiast rating: 92 points
2002 Wine Enthusiast rating: 91 points

Winemaker's Notes:

 Martin Ray 2003 Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is aged for 30 months in new French oak barrels. This hearty, bold Cabernet has a deep garnet hue with rich aromas of black cherries, luscious chocolate and an underlying whisper of black currant. The rich, concentrated flavors include abundant layers of ripe cherries and black currants covered in vanilla cream, leading to a long, full finish.

Enjoy the Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled steak topped by your favorite spices or sautéed lamb chops and squash.

"Bryan Davison of Martin Ray purchased the fruit for this wine from the Van der Kamp Vineyard, 1,400 feet up Sonoma Mountain on a northwest-facing slope. (He also blended in a small amount of fruit from Eaglepoint Ranch in Mendocino.) The soils range from red volcanic loam at the top of the vineyard to clay farther down, producing a remarkably delicate cabernet with mineral complexity. Dark flavors of woodland berries weave into the ferrous tannin, feeling strong without any overt muscularity. It's beautiful from the moment the aroma hits, and the fruit impression lasts. It's alive."
-Wine & Spirits
My Notes:

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About Martin Ray:

 Courtney Benham acquired the historic Martini & Prati winery in July 2003, which is now Martin Ray Winery and the home of their new Tasting Room. The Tasting Room structure, dating back to the 1900's, used to serve as a stable and bunkhouse where Italian immigrants stayed during harvest and crush. The winery also houses a 1 million gallon production facility that is used not only for wine production, but also as a 'custom crush' facility where over 20 clients crush their grapes and produce their wine.

Established in 1881 as the Twin Fir Winery, the historic site is distinguished as the oldest winery in continuous operation in Sonoma County and one of the oldest wineries in California. The winery was able to stay in operation during prohibition by selling sacramental wines by train to Rabbis through a winery in New York. Originally known as Martini & Prati, which was established in 1902, the winery was run by five generations of the Martini family and associated with the local Italian-American community that still includes the Sebastiani's, the Foppiano's, the Pedroncelli's and the Seghesio's.