Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Tribute Proprietary Red Wine has a medium garnet-purple color and gives expressive notes of black cherries, cassis, menthol, chocolate box and underbrush with a waft of cedar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate provides a great core of minted black fruit with a firm frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length.
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.
Defined more by altitude than geographical outline, the Sonoma Mountain appellation occupies elevations between 400 and 1,200 feet on the northern and eastern slopes of the actual Sonoma Mountain and is part of the greater Sonoma Valley appellation. The mountain reaches 2,400 feet; its hills separate the cooling winds of Petaluma Gap from the Sonoma Valley.
On a cooler western flank, Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Syrah enjoy a great deal of success. Vineyards on its warmer, eastern side, interspersed with heavily forested areas, tend to include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Syrah. Given its complexity of topography and mesoclimates, Sonoma Mountain excels with a wide range of grape varieties.