Winemaker Notes
Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec 9% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
The Lancaster estate vineyard rises out of the southeastern corner of Alexander Valley, on the hills that lead up toward Knights Valley. Planted to Bordeaux varieties, it's managed by Phil Freese; Jesse Katz makes the wine with an assist from David Ramey. Their 2007 cabernet gets better and better the longer you sit with it in the glass. It starts off stony and tough, with purple fruit and coal black tannins. There's juiciness in the tannin, with the textural give of a chewy black mushroom, as the firm fruit slowly comes into focus. This will benefit from five or six years in the cellar.
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Wine Enthusiast
The soft, silky quality of the tannins, fine acidity, and elaborate black cherry, currant, herb, anise and oak flavors make this elegant young wine fully ready to drink now, with equally fine food. Give it a few hours of decanting.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest other Bordeaux varietals) possesses sweet black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with notions of damp earth, tar, and spring flowers. Rich and full-bodied with ripe, supple tannins, and a long finish, it should age easily for 15+ 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.
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.