Winemaker Notes
Deep black cherry, cassis and red currant flavors with graceful mineral tones. Well extracted, elegantly muscular, with chewy, soft tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep ruby-purple, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mountain, aged 20 months in 58% new French oak, gives up boysenberry and blueberry to begin, fleshing out to aromas of blackcurrant, hoisin, cedar shavings, roasted plum and a framing of sweet spice. The palate is full-bodied and youthfully dense with a chewy frame, great freshness and a long finish. Give this another 2-3 years in bottle.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estates Collection Hawkeye Mountain is another Alexander Valley release (from the same vineyard) and spent 19 months in 58% new French oak. All Cabernet Sauvignon, it offers up lots of cassis and blackberry fruit as well as the classic savory style that's common from the Alexander Valley. Dried spice, mountain scrub brush, lead pencil, and charcoal notes all emerge from the glass, and it's nicely balanced, with ripe (yet present) tannins and terrific overall balance. It's a classic Sonoma Cabernet to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
This mountain-grown wine displays firm, hearty tannins and smoky oak on the back of the palate, which support rich, full-bodied brambly blackberry and cherry. Sweet tobacco, crushed rock and clove add a length and breadth of earthiness that contrasts well
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.