Winemaker Notes
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Opulent in texture and super-concentrated in fruit and oak flavors, this wine has a big presence, from the inky dark color to the baking spice and blackberry jam flavors to massive but soft tannins. Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the wine is bold, full-bodied and packed with flavor.
-
James Suckling
Aromas of dark berries, dark chocolate, toasted cedar and spices. Full-bodied, polished and refined. Tannins are compact and fine-grained. Seamless and attractive. Drink or hold.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The inky red 2019 Estate Red is ripe with blackberries, cassis, cedar, and graphite. Full-bodied on the palate, it has fleshy fruit of baked black plum, a note of dark soil, and ripe tannins that turn a touch bitter with notes of coffee bean.
Perhaps no other winery captures the casual luxury of Sonoma County better than Chalk Hill Estate. Founded nearly four decades ago, this spectacular 1300-acre property features 300 acres of vineyards, wilderness areas, winery, hospitality center, culinary garden, residence, stables, equestrian pavilion, sports fields, fishing and swimming ponds, and guest houses.
The winery's vineyards are thoughtfully woven through the native foliage and contoured to fit the intricate terrain. More than two-thirds of the Chalk Hill Estate remains uncultivated. The higher elevations offer stunning views of the Russian River Valley to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east.
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.
A Sonoma sub-appellation whose boundaries cover the northeastern corner of the Russian River Valley AVA, the Chalk Hill growing area is named after its unique chalky and white, volcanic ash soils. This terrain has proven successful with white varieties, namely Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc.