Winemaker Notes
This 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 Napa Cabernet portion of the blend comes from vineyards in Oakville and Rutherford and 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.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah
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.
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.