Winemaker Notes
The Sidekick Series from Iconic Wine represents the finest wine we could create at everyday drinking value. Sidekick Cabernet 2021 is fermented in several stainless steel vertical fermenters. Maceration is 14 to 20 days with once a day pump over. An additional portion is producer in a rotofermetnor. with the wine turned three times daily until fully dry. 1/3rd is then introduced to new French oak and aged for a minimum of six months. Final blending is done a few weeks before bottling. Great care is taken to not over extract the grapes, that would result in pushing the wine into a jam or green vegetable character. Sidekick Cabernet Sauvignon is made to focus on rich body, while still maintaining bright red fruit flavors. peach and full of floral aromatics.
Covering the most vine acreage in the state compared to any other red wine variety, Cabernet Sauvignon produces as much wine in California as Merlot and Pinot Noir combined. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates, as well as the freedom of its winemakers, allow for an incredible range of wine styles from this single grape.
California’s most famous region—and especially for Cabernet Sauvignon—is the acclaimed Napa Valley. While Cabernet is successful throughout the world, rarely has it achieved such merit as it does from the Napa Valley. At this point the two are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other.
Napa’s closest neighbor, Sonoma County, does an impressive job keeping up with Napa’s fame and glory. Alexander Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Moon Mountain and Knights Valley contribute to the lot of some of California’s top-rated Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lake County in California’s North Coast has become a focus for some of Napa’s more respected growers. From the Central Coast come iconic examples of classic California Cabernet; Lodi and the Sierra Foothills are great budget-friendly sources of amicable Cabernets.