Winemaker Notes
The Estate Cabernet is the signature wine of Obsidian Ridge and embodies the complexity and wildness of the site. The structure and intensity of upper blocks is complemented by aromatics and acidity of cooler blocks. Aromas of freshly-cut red cherries with hints of cinnamon and spice. Flavors of mulberry and plum, woven with dried oregano and chapparal, are supported by a rich texture of fine, leathery tannins. Notes of star anise, cinnamon, and orange peel inspire pairing with Mediterranean dishes. Fresh acidity keeps the wine lively on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Significantly tannic but also flavorful enough to pull it off, this full-bodied wine is a good candidate for further aging. It brims with black currant, graphite and black cherry flavors that are vivid but not overblown, achieving good balance and complexity. Aged for 18 months in 40% new Hungarian oak barrels, it should be best from 2026.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon brings excellent attention to the somewhat under-the-radar Red Hills. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of black fruit, dried spices, and oak. Enjoy it with grilled beef. (Tasted: September 29, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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James Suckling
Black fruit, graphite, walnut husk, charred bark and crushed peppercorns on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Excellent structure and freshness. Drink from 2023.
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.
Located within the greater Clear Lake appellation, the Red Hills AVA is perhaps the hottest spot right now in Lake County for new Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. Recognizing the potential of its volcanic and obsidian heavy soils, many respected growers are flocking to the area. Andy Beckstoffer, a leader in escalating the quality and recognition of Napa Valley, has already invested heavily in the area.