Winemaker Notes
Slope represents the many aspects, elevations and exposures of this remarkable hillside vineyard. Individual lots from across the property were selected and blended to produce this august cuvée. Rich, profound and dense, this mountainside Cabernet entices with its sweet fruit, supple palate and persistent flavors. Nuances of dark chocolate and black fruit unfold into layers of dark cherry, anisette, black raspberry, chai tea and mocha. Accessible in its youth, it will continue to evolve for decades.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Slope (from the Hidden Ridge vineyard) is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and features crushed blackcurrants, black berries and warm plums notions with hints of lavender, camphor, pencil lead and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers mouth-filling black fruits with herb and earthy accents and a firm backbone of grainy tannins, finishing long with a little wood poking through.
Rating: 92+
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.