Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Impassable Mountain Reserve sounds relatively intimidating, but if you want a quintessential example of what perfection is in my business, taste this wine! Absolutely remarkable in every sense – the incredible pure aromatics of blue, red and black fruits, the minerality, the volcanic, earthy sweetness that emerges in a subtle fashion, the full-bodied opulence, the staggering finish of more than a minute, and its unreal concentration certainly make this one of the most compelling and profound Cabernet Sauvignons I have ever tasted, and the first perfect wine of 2016. This should be nearly immortal, drinking well young, and for those with the patience and wisdom to wait 25-35 years, a legacy wine from Sonoma.
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.