Winemaker Notes
This Cabernet is a proprietary blend sourced from two vineyards on High Serenity Ranch. The Monte Sereno Vineyard makes up the majority of the blend, and is located at 2100 ft. in elevation on the western slopes of High Valley. The soils on this ridge top are primarily broken shale characteristic of Franciscan formation with a light dusting of red volcanic soils intermixed. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot are three of this wine's varietal components. These four vineyard blocks have a southern exposure ensuring softer tannin development, and full fruit maturity for these late ripening varietals. The other Bordelaise varietal in this blend is Merlot which is located on the northern slopes of a southern exposed bench.
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.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.