Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The saturated ruby/purple-hued 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Hyde Vineyard exhibits subtle smoky, bay leaf notes intermixed with scents of burning embers, charcoal, blackberries, and cassis. The finest red wine I have tasted from this vineyard, it is a beautifully proportioned, full-bodied Cabernet with a hint of a cool climate character as well as impressive precision and purity. It will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and last for 25+ years.
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.