Winemaker Notes
The 2006 vintage of Legacy is led by Cabernet Sauvignon which makes up 86% of the blend and is from both hillside and mountain vineyards in the Alexander Valley. The mountain vineyards reach up to 2,400 feet in elevation and are planted on our Alexander Mountain Estate. Higher altitude creates its own climate which is different from the vineyards planted on the valley floor. Even on the warmest summer days, the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean twenty miles away can be felt. Soils, too, are significantly different. On the mountain, the soil is thin, rocky and gravelly. This helps produce fruit that is complex, rich and concentrated.
The blend is further enhanced by the contributions of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec fruit sourced from our Legacy vineyards in the Alexander Valley.
We complement the powerful fruit by using only small, thin-staved French oak barrels to age this wine. The resulting wine is supple and leads with notes of graphite and black currant. Look also for hints of smoky toastiness and concentrated black cherries.
86% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Merlot; 2% Petit Verdot; 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Hard to exaggerate the beauty of this mountain-grown wine, which is based on Cabernet Sauvignon but contains the other four classic Bordeaux varieties. Although it's very tannic, those tannins are remarkably soft. Nearly all-new oak provides a framework of smoky caramel, delicious enough, but just an accompaiment to the blackberries, black currants, cherries and dark chocolate. A fantastic wine for drinking now, and should last for many years in the cellar.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sharing the same winemaker, Graham Werts, as the Stonestreet winery, the 2006 Legacy is a 1,400-case blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. This gorgeous 2006 boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as aromas and flavors of spicy oak, creosote, burning embers, and copious quantities of black currant and blackberry fruit. Full-bodied with a subtle smoky component, multilayers, a round, generous texture, and sweet tannin in its silky finish, it can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20+ years.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.