Winemaker Notes
This Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has spice-driven aromas of cloves, anice and fennel, complemented by notes of dark cherry. The palate holds a fine tannic quality with hints of spice and intense ripe fruit flavors. Following a balanced palate, the finish is long lasting.
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
This blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot is lushly textured throughout, combining aromas of blueberry pie with a silky, supple mouthfeel and flavors of dark chocolate, nutmeg, and cinnamon. With balanced acidity and an ABV of 14.2%, it aged 18 months in French oak.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The Knights Valley AVA is home to some of the state's very best Cabernets. Though not well-known by the general public, nearly all wine cognoscenti are aware of the importance of this growing region. The 2016 Gehricke Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a true standout. NOTES: This wine is packed with red and black fruit aromas and flavors, as well as an added complexity of sweet spice and savory oak. Pair its complex nuances with a grilled hanger steak. (Tasted: June 26, 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.
A small and picturesque valley separating Napa Valley on its south border and Alexander Valley to its north, Knights Valley excels in similar varieties as the two aforementioned appellations, namely red Bordeaux varieties and blends, as well as Sauvignon blanc. Originally established by Beringer Vineyards, today several outstanding producers claim acreage here. The circadian cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean create a nighttime respite for vineyards during the hot growing season.