Winemaker Notes
A pristine, deep ruby hue is followed by a spicy and absolutely captivating nose. Powerful, young and still primary aromas of black currant, peppercorn and damp earth with just a hint of bay leaf and vanilla confirm you have a noble Cabernet in the glass. The palate is both mouthcoating and lithe, with ripe tannins that offer balanced structure and support to the loads of black cherry, blueberry and baking spices. Blue Rock’s signature bright acidity carries the finish all the way through and promises another exciting evolution, whether decanted tonight or in your cellar for years to come.
All of the traditional Cabernet pairings will work wonderfully — red meats, reduction sauces, and mushroom dishes — plus herbed tomato, poultry stock and heavier cream sauces. The combination of fruit and acidity here will shine with any and all of these culinary delights.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Inviting aromas of ripe red and black berries, lead pencil and vanilla bean. Full-bodied with lovely concentration and intensity. Velvety tannins. Nuanced notes of spice and dried herbs accent the wonderfully ripe fruit. A hint of bark comes through at the end.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine offers undeniable power and also value, with substantial structure, polished and powdery tannins and lasting elegance. Blueberry, blackberry and black cherry reside within a context of integrated oak, baking spice and vanilla, dense through a powerful finish.
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.