Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Beautifully crafted, sleek and elegant, sharply focused on ripe, rich cherry, currant, plum and berry. Picks up pretty floral and spicy nuances and the tannins, while firm, are supple and integrated.
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Wine Enthusiast
A strong performance from a vintage considered among the best; this comes on and stays intense through the close. However, the wine's scale caused some doubts to be registered about its balance—it's pretty hot, and high in alcohol. Still, few argued with the toast, dark berry and licorice nose, the dark spicy-sweet flavors or rich, even mouthfeel. Closes long and a little hot, with large, mouthcoating tannins.
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.