Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The stunning 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon 55% Slope Impassable Mountain Reserve (15% alcohol) boasts copious notes of licorice, creme de cassis, charcoal, blackberries and forest floor in a rich, full-bodied, opulent style. Vaguely reminiscent of some of Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignons made in the mid-1970s, this brilliant wine should age easily for 20-25 years. Something of this quality from Napa would cost two to ten times as much.
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.