Winemaker Notes
The 2018 vintage of the Sonoma Estates offers generous layered aromas of bright cherry and black forest fruit. Ripe fruit character carries through on the palate along with undertones of caramel and cedar. Bright and juicy with a plush and velvety texture, it is readily enjoyable on its own and versatile enough to be paired with anything from casual pub fare to a classic ribeye.
Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Plenty of plum, leafy tobacco, graphite, and violet notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Estates, a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, classic Cabernet offering building yet ripe tannins and a great finish. It can be drunk today with plenty of pleasure, but it's still going to be drinking beautifully in a decade as well.
While Sonoma County is acclaimed—and rightfully so—for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandels, it also produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the region’s 18 American Viticultural Areas, only a handful produce top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon. These appellations include Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley. Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons made in these appellations can offer a complex array of aromas and flavors. Fruit notes such as blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and raspberry often are accompanied by hints of graphite, dusty earth, cigar box, toast and vanilla. The varietal has a rich history in Sonoma, and some of these Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet-based blends rival the best from Napa Valley.