Winemaker Notes
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lead pencil and blackberries with blackcurrants. Slate, too. Medium body, firm and fine tannins and a racy finish. Linear and polished. Crunchy. Pencil shavings. Slightly roasted coffee beans. So subtle and energetic.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
It has intense aromas of cassis, black plums, cocoa powder, violet and licorice. The medium-bodied palate is pure and detailed with velvety tannins, vibrant acidity nestled into its concentrated, perfumed flavors and a long, elegant finish.
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Wine Spectator
A ripe and flattering style, with a friendly wave of boysenberry and plum puree flavors that glide through easily, lined with light toast, violet and licorice hints. Reveals a flash of sweet spices on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2030.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.