Winemaker Notes
Folie a Deux's Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of black currant, cherry, dark plum and violets are balanced by notes of sage, fennel, olives, black tea, and tobacco—all layered over soft, fine-grained tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Lush and thickly concentrated, this crowd-friendly wine offers a brightness of cassis that complements its darker, richer tones of chocolate mocha and clove. Medium in build, it uses its oak well, integrating it into the whole.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Following the trail of the Alexander Valley Cabernets has been long and arduous. With so many wineries producing them and quality ranging far and wide, one never knows who is going to step up to the plate. The 2014 Folie à Deux wasn't on my radar screen, but it is now. TASTING NOTES: This wine is quite rich and shows a nice mix of red currant, dried herbs, and sweet earth. Its juxtaposition of aromas and flavors makes it an excellent choice with braised meats. (Tasted: February 16, 2018, 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.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.