Winemaker Notes
While Alexander Valley Vineyards releases Cyrus four years after harvest, the wine is still quite young. It will open up beautifully in the glass, but will easily benefit from additional bottle aging.
Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This Bordeaux-style blend, based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is the winery’s best in years. It shows the soft tannins and herbal quality of Alexander Valley Cabs, yet is rich enough in blackberry, currant and oak to satisfy. Its tannin structure feels elegant, with layers of complexity to accompany fine cuisine.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.