Winemaker Notes
Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Most of this wine comes from the Bundschu’s Rhinefarm Estate at the foot of the Mayacamas, blended with 10 percent from higher elevations. It grows in volcanic ash and alluvial soils eight miles north of San Pablo Bay, yielding an intriguing wine that tastes like something more than simple plummy fruit. Savory scents of mint and rose add layers to the red earth notes in the tannins. The wine has shape and direction, setting it up for aging.
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.