Winemaker Notes
Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
An authentic Bordeaux-style expression from Sonoma. Firm, dense and muscular, with a tight core of vivid blackberry, spice, cedar, loamy earth, black olive and cigar box notes, framed by tight, ripe, gripping tannins that extend the flavors. The finish impresses with purity, focus and complexity. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2026.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Far superior is their flagship offering for Bordeaux varietal blends, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cepages, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. It possesses a deep ruby/purple color along with notes of cranberry sauce, black cherries, black currants, dusty, loamy soil, unsmoked cigar tobacco and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied and rich with light tannins as well as a textured mouthfeel, there are 7,000 cases of this beauty that can be enjoyed over the next 10-12 years
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.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.