Winemaker Notes
Educated Guess North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon opens with concentrated aromas of dark berries, plums, and a hint of cracked peppercorn. The primary source for the Cabernet fruit is from the famed Beckstoffer Crimson Ridge Vineyard. This vineyard is known for its volcanic soils and has a western facing orientation, which provides the wine with amazing structure and depth due to its extended hang time. The Oakville portion of the blend comes from a vineyard tucked away between Groth and Rudd Wineries, and is called “The Money Vineyard” (no pun intended) and is owned and farmed by the Laird family. This Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon brings to the blend a perfect sense of elegance and smooth velvety tannins. The final blend is luscious and full bodied, excites the senses, and is packed full of exotic flavors of tea spice, dark chocolate, and fruit preserves.
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesOne surprise to emerge from my tastings last fall with the Napa Valley Vintners was the performance of the 2020 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Boasting aromas of dark loam, cassis, black cherries and vanilla, it's full-bodied and velvety in the mouth. It seems sound, even if it's not the richest or longest wine, and the tariff is fair in the context of soaring Napa retail prices. Best After 2023.
Roots Run Deep Winery was founded in 2005 with the promise of producing unparalleled wine from the Napa Valley at prices everyone can afford. Grapes grown by the best producers in Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and Carneros wine districts go into making these wines superb in quality and unmatched in value. Proprietor Mark Albrecht is a 15-year veteran in the wine industry and has been involved in all aspects of the industry from restaurant to retail, and wholesaler to supplier. Mark was instrumental in the creation, strategic planning and marketing of many successful wine brands and brings that passion to Roots Run Deep. His philosophy is that great wines can be affordable and Roots Run Deep Winery is dedicated to producing wines that can compete with $50+ wines for a fraction of the price.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.
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.