Winemaker Notes
If 1998 was the year to try men's souls (and winemaking abilities), 1999 was the year to gladden our hearts. North, south, east, and west, from alicante bouschet to zinfandel, vintage 1999 produced splendid wines, and Sonoma Mountain was no exception. Although the crop was small, the quality was high: a long and even growing year, devoid of temperature extremes, and with a normal late-September harvest, produced beautiful ripening. 1999 Counterpoint Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon displays a dark, almost opaque core surrounded with an intense purple rim, which presages the deep black fruit/dusty cassis/mulberry nose. As with all Laurel Glen wines, from REDS to Laurel Glen itself, this Counterpoint is enlivened with a moderate natural acidity, which makes it delicious with food and which distinguishes it from so many of its jammy-fruited peers. The acid is balanced by the deep fruit core of the wine, which also lends a roundness to the fine tannins. The result is a well balanced, broad-shouldered wine, rounded and full of the typical Laurel Glen character. It should be pretty tasty with grilled meats and full-flavored foods.
Professional Ratings
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.