Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which was reviewed in issue #127, remains one of the finest wines yet produced by Steve Reeder. The following note is from that issue. This Cabernet, which spent 36 months in barrel prior to bottling, is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, with a dollop of Merlot or Cabernet Franc added. Production is limited to 500 cases. The terrific 1996 boasts a saturated purple color, as well as a stunning bouquet of coconut, vanillin, black currants, plums, and smoke. Full-bodied, thick, yet nicely buttressed by adequate acidity, this juicy, thrillingly proportioned, large-scaled Cabernet Sauvignon will be at its finest after another year of bottle age; it will keep for two decades.
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Wine Spectator
Big, ripe, rich and expressive. Tannic and chewy, but also complex, with coffee, mocha, sweet currant and cedary oak flavors that make this one of the more youthful 1996s in my tasting.--1996 California Cabernet retrospective.
While Sonoma County is acclaimed—and rightfully so—for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandels, it also produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the region’s 18 American Viticultural Areas, only a handful produce top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon. These appellations include Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley. Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons made in these appellations can offer a complex array of aromas and flavors. Fruit notes such as blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and raspberry often are accompanied by hints of graphite, dusty earth, cigar box, toast and vanilla. The varietal has a rich history in Sonoma, and some of these Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet-based blends rival the best from Napa Valley.