Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Crème de cassis, toasted spice, dried herbs, new saddle leather, and graphite notes all emerge from the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Cliff Hanger, which is another 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this estate that spent 20 months in 60% new oak. Possessing full-bodied richness, good concentration, and ripe tannin, it's a classic wine from this estate that's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink beautifully for two decades.
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.
On the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, the rolling hills of the tiny Happy Canyon AVA produce top quality reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and whites from Sauvignon blanc. The region’s low-nutrient soil grows smaller vines and in turn, higher quality wine grapes.