Winemaker Notes
-Wine Enthusiast
2001 is an excellent vintage. This particular bottling is an excellent expression of the year and of the Alexander Valley, one of the prime Cabernet growing regions of the world. Elegant and stylish, this release is made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 3 % Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. It has gorgeous, rich, dark berry fruit, with a touch of smoke, some mint and a hint of vanilla and it has gorgeous structure. It is a big wine, but typical of the Alexander Valley displays silky, soft tannins that aren't biting even in the wine's youth.
Food Pairings: It has the kind of breeding and structure that go well with steak, chops and eggplant Parmesan. It would also be a classic take-to-a-friend's-house wine because it is classy and special.
Professional Ratings
Iron Horse is best known for its Sparkling Wines, which have been served at the White House since 1985, beginning with the historic U.S.-Russian Summit Meetings ending the Cold War, at the White House Millennium celebrations ushering in the new century, and at the White House dinner honoring the Pope.
Their Chardonnay is considered a signature wine for the cool, foggy Green Valley region. Pinot Noir is the winery's rising star wine.
Iron Horse has been named an American icon in a reference book published by Random House called "Icons of the American Market Place". Listed in alphabetical order, Iron Horse takes its place between iPod and Jack Daniel’s, validating Iron Horse’s reputation as a brand backed by pride, passion and quality.
The Iron Horse name came from a train that cut across the property in the 1890s. The logo, the rampant horse on a weather vane, came from a 19th century weathervane found while clearing away the rubble to build the winery.
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.