Winemaker Notes
Aromas of cassis, blackberry, leather, and wild chaparral unfold gracefully, leading to layered flavors of toasted oak, boysenberry pie, and a touch of vanilla. The wine offers a mid-palate richness and complexity, balanced by a refined texture and enduring elegance.
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The Shannon Family of Wines remains one of Lake County’s driving forces, and I always look forward to tasting their work. The 2023 Clay Shannon The Barkley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with delicate spice notes, leading to a chewy, well-balanced palate that shows the region’s signature rustic charm. Enjoy this with a plate of Lake County–style smoked tri-tip, a local BBQ favorite that matches the wine’s texture and depth. (Tasted: November 28, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
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.