Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 55% Slope comes from the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains. It is 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon from a vineyard planted at 1,700 feet. This is a remarkable wine and reminiscent of the great classics from the golden era of the Mayacamas on the Napa side (such as the 1968, 1970, 1973 and 1974) come to mind when tasting this beauty. It is simply loaded. Dense purple in color, the wine has notes of licorice, crème de cassis, Asian plum sauce, cedar wood and earth. Full-bodied, opulent and irresistible already, it is capable (because of the impeccable balance and purity) of aging 20-25 or more years. This is a modern-day classic that could compete with very finest Cabernet-based wines in the world.
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.