Winemaker Notes
An elegant, intensely concentrated wine with vibrant blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors. This wine exhibits rich, deep color and hints of mint, spice and cassis.
Alcohol: 14.3%
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
From one of the largest and most highly touted vintages in a great decade, this is large and fairly fat. The cassis, fruitcake and menthol nose and sweet blackberry and chocolate palate aim to please…and do just that. It feels a bit low in acidity, making it lush and forward, displaying a bit of heat and a looser structure. Still, this pleasure package is young, and the long, dark finish shows even, well-dispersed tannins. Another winner in a streak, if maybe less of a keeper. Drink now–2009, again probably sooner rather than later.
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.