Winemaker Notes
Wonderful with ribeye steak.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
One of the gems in the lineup is unquestionably the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mountain, which comes from a vineyard at 2,400 feet in elevation and spent 20 months in 47% new French oak. It offers awesome notes of cassis, liquid violets, vanilla bean, and classy oak as well as full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, beautiful tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s approachable today but will keep for 10-15 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a tremendously impressive wine from the producer’s high-elevation estate situated at 2,400 feet. Rich tones of vanilla bean, cassis and raspberry liqueur open the door to a soft, integrated midpalate that is complex and lengthy.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made of 100% Cabernet aged 20 months in 43% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mtn. is deep garnet-purple colored and leaps from the glass with bold blueberries, cassis and Black Forest cake scents plus suggestions of camphor, unsmoked cigars, charcoal and fungi. Medium to full-bodied, firmly textured and delivering bags of vibrant black fruits, it has a lively line and long mint-laced finish.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.