Winemaker Notes
The nose reveals aromas of dried cherries, plums, and black currant. On the palate, notes of boysenberry, dark cherry, and subtle hints of coffee are followed by approachable tannins that are round, soft, and balanced by a juicy acidity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Ripe aromas of Damson plums, dark cherries, spices and cassia bark. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and balanced acidity, giving notes of blackberry bush, potpourri, mocha and tobacco leaves. Well constructed.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The first time I have tasted this wine, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot, along with a small amount of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A saturated dark red hue, it’s stylistically ripe and lush, opening to notes of plum, cassis, cedar, sweet tobacco, and vanilla. The palate has a plush, ripe, chocolate texture, with a rounded and approachable feel, although its undertones of more mountainous fruit come through on the finish. It will be best enjoyed over the next few years.
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.
A vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.