Winemaker Notes
A blend of fruits, florals and spices fills the nose and palate, reminiscent of blackberry jam, black cherry, dried violets, chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, toasted wood and black tea. Plush tannins coat the mouth while balanced acidity adds lift and lightness to the midpalate. It's an overall engaging, full-bodied red wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is rich and concentrated, with aromas of boysenberry, cassis and cedar. The wine is creamy in the mid-palate with vanilla cream and cardamon spice. Black licorice, bittersweet chocolate and dried herbs bring everything together for a smooth finish. Pair with beef stew.
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.
Originally a source of oenological sustenance for gold-seeking miners of the mid-1800s, the Sierra Foothills was the first region in California to produce wines from European grape varieties. Located between Sacramento and the Nevada border, this area’s immigrant settlers chose to forgo growing the then-ubiquitous Mission grape and instead brought with them superior vines from the Old World to plant alongside mining camps.
Zinfandel has been the most important variety of this region since its inception, taking on a spicy character with brambly fruit and firm structure. Amador and El Dorado counties, benefiting from the presence of volcanic and granite soils, are home to the best examples. Bold, robust Rhône Blends and Barbera are also important regional specialties.