Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Phil Freese joined the Lancaster team in 2009, consulting on viticulture at this 53-acre vineyard in southeastern hills of Alexander Valley. Jesse Katz was recruited by consulting winemaker David Ramey in 2010. They worked together on this polished, savory blend of five Bordeaux varieties (cabernets sauvignon and franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot). The fruit is explosive, a blast of cherry and blueberry, tamped down by the hillside tannins so it tastes ripe but not over the top. The fruit richness lasts, spiced by the tannins into an elegant length. Delicious to decant now and well suited to aging.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is almost undrinkable now, despite its fantastically rich blackberry, blueberry and cassis flavors. The tannins are substantial, and the acidity sticks out like a squirt of lime juice. All of its elements are good, but it needs time—as much as a decade and possibly longer.
Cellar Selection
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Wine Spectator
Tight in structure, with a core of ripe cherry and blackberry shaded by cedar and fresh earth. Comes to life midpalate, then veers toward chewy, tobacco-laced tannins. Best from 2014 through 2024. 4,058 cases made.
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.