Winemaker Notes
In signature Cinq Cepages form, this classically styled Bordeaux blend shows off aromas and flavors of dark fruits, including blackberries and mountain raspberries accented with cassis, black olive, tobacco leaf and black tea. Hints of oak spice and vanilla frame a nicely balanced, well-structured wine that is rich and inviting, round in mouthfeel with a notably lingering finish. Deeply concentrated and typical of the vintage, this is a wine with a solid potential for aging and gaining further complexity for those with the patience to wait for full enjoyment.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blackberries, blueberries, spearmint and hints of mint. Medium-bodied, tight and focused with beautifully polished tannins and a long, driven finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Cinq Cepages Proprietary Red Wine is made up of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, aged 20 months in 63% new French oak. It has a very deep purple-black color and opens with crème de cassis, warm plums and blackberry pie notes plus nuances of lavender, Provence herbs and spice box with touches of cedar and menthol. The palate is medium-bodied and wonderfully elegant in the mouth with plenty of vivacity to the fruit and a finely played, grainy frame, finishing long and lively.
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.