Winemaker Notes
"Pedregal" means a rocky place in Spanish, and that is certainly a distinguishing feature of the site. This is a small, hillside vineyard on the lower slopes of eastern Oakville that's planted to 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. Aging the 2011 sur lies with monthly batonnage has coated the tannins and smoothly integrated the wood. We left this vintage 19 months in 100% new French barrels (Taransaud and Darnajou).
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2011 Pedregal Proprietary Red (now called Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard) is the latest library release from Ramey. It is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, co-fermented and aged 19 months in 100% new French oak—David Ramey says 26 months maturation is normal, but the challenges of the 2011 vintage dictated a shorter élevage. Medium ruby, it has pretty redcurrants, licorice, dried herbs and leather on the nose. The palate is soft, elegant and at its peak for drinking with its blend of red fruits and savory, mature tones.
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Wine Spectator
Marked by a dose of charry, smoky oak, this offers dense flavors of dark berry, currant, black licorice and dried herb. Ends with gutsy tannins and a persistent finish. Needs cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2024.
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.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.