Moniker Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
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Scents of earth-laden blackberry are a nod to nature. The juicy black-fruited bramble is seasoned with extra white pepper and still remains lithe on the tongue. The Thornhill family, producers of this slate-y beauty with dry, dusty bittersweet chocolate tannins, has created a powerfully balanced and well-structured wine.
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In the late 1990s, the Thornhill family's dream was to bring their far-flung family together in one beautiful place we could call home. After years of searching, the family decided Mendocino County, California was that special place, and in 2002 they moved to La Ribera, a benchland vineyard in the heart of the Ukiah Valley.
La Ribera is a 1.5-mile long property situated on the eastern banks of the Russian River in the southern Ukiah Valley. One hundred and fifty acres are planted in vines, with the original plantings dating to the early 1950s. The river and its abundant riparian zone exert a cooling influence that tempers summer heat and helps retain acidity and freshness in the grapes.
Attention to the needs of each vine results in more concentrated and expressive fruit, and La Ribera’s diversity of soil types allows us to precisely match an array of varietals—Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Syrah—with their ideal soil profile. The result is high-quality wines boasting intense varietal character.
Through the wines, winemaker Greg Winter and the Thornhill family have worked to display the ultimate expression of their devotion to Mendocino County's breathtaking beauty, rich wine culture and friendly, hard-working people. They represent the best of their family and the singular appeal of one of the world's finest and most distinctive winegrowing regions.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.