Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Aperture Oliver Ranch, which includes 11% Cabernet Franc, was brought up in 80% new French oak. It's another saturated purple-colored effort that offers a mineral-laced bouquet of smoked red and black currants, tobacco leaf, scorched earth, and charcoal. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age to shed some baby fat and develop complexity but is an undeniably promising wine.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Oliver Ranch Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored and a little reticent to begin, opening to reveal notions of wild blueberries, cassis and warm black plums plus hints of spice cake, cigar box and underbrush. The palate is full-bodied with beautiful balance at this youthful stage, featuring a plush frame of finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and layered.
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James Suckling
A very soft and round red with chocolate, blackberry and black-olive character. A generous wine with a full body and generous ripeness. Yet, it remains vivid and fresh. Cabernet sauvignon with a touch of franc. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Juicy black cherry, crushed rock and dried herb combine with ease in this site-specific wine blended with 11% Cabernet Franc. Grainy oak and powerful concentration on the palate make it hard to forget. Enjoy 2020–2025.
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Wine Spectator
Intense yet elegant, with distinctive mocha and chocolate flavors amid a core of dark berry and black licorice. Oak provides a toasty edge that adds dimension and length. Very impressive. Drink now through 2028.
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.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.