Winemaker Notes
This wine will shine with grilled filet mignon and a classic baked potato with sour cream and chives, as well as intense-flavored cuisine such as lamb kabobs over couscous and roasted parsnips or a simple, savory steakhouse burger pumped up with duck fat fries.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Acid-grabbing structure in a grapey-plum wash of blue flowers is just the beginning of this quaffable red. Red ribbons of raspberry and pomegranate are brushed with cocoa and coffee from mid-palate to finish. The mineral-rich soil shows through and the ultimate food-pairing ability is greenlighted all the way.
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Wine Enthusiast
This impressive value-driven wine, with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah added, offers a pleasant array of lavender, smoke and chocolate tastes atop a thick texture. Tangy cranberry, raspberry and blackberry give it a juicy, fruity edge that’s decadent yet integrated. Editors' Choice
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of the best deals in the marketplace, the 2014 Plungerhead Cabernet Sauvignon does an excellent job in showing the elegance of the Alexander Valley. The wine exhibits red currants, some chalk, and a touch of savory herbs. Its lively finish makes it a delicious treat with roast chicken. (Tasted: April 14, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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.