Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2011 Pluribus is absolutely magnificent. It represents a synthesis of the preceding wines in the range, marrying the freshness of the Melbury with the greater textural resonance found in the other Cabernets. This site, which is at elevation on Spring Mountain, benefitted from more favorable conditions than vineyards on the valley floor. The result is a distinctive, potent Cabernet Sauvignon that is has aged impeccably and is in the zone today.
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Decanter
Sourced from a vineyard on the lower slopes of Spring Mountain. Cleary displays its mountainous origins with a plump, forward assertiveness. Aromas of dried clay, charred cedar and huckleberry. Shows a grippy, angular texture as well as great finesse on the palate. Regal and multidimensional, this is the hardest-edged of the Bond Cabernets. Drinking Window 2021 - 2036
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Displaying plenty of blueberry and black raspberry fruit, the soft, luscious 2011 Proprietary Red Blend Pluribus has more depth and concentration than it did from barrel. Full-bodied, opulent and complex, this beauty should drink nicely for 15-20 years.
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Wine Spectator
Presents a wide range of dense, taut, rich flavors, extending from ripe plum and black cherry to dill, cedar, blackberry and olive. Ends with a pleasant chewiness. Drink now through 2023.
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.
Above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains sits the Spring Mountain District.
A dynamic region, its vineyards, cut by numerous springs and streams, vary in elevation, slope and aspect. Soils differ throughout with over 20 distinct types inside of the 8,600 acres that define the appellation. Within that area, only about 1,000 are planted to vineyards. Predominantly farmed by small, independent producers, the region currently has just over 30 wineries.
During the growing season, late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes reach the Spring Mountain vineyards, which sit at between 400 and 1,200 feet. Daytime temperatures during mid summer and early fall remain slightly cooler than those of the valley floor.
Spring Mountain soils—volcanic matter and sedimentary rock—create intense but balanced reds with lush and delicate tannins. The area excels with Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and in some cooler spots, Chardonnay.