Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark in color and full-bodied, this bone dry Cabernet is tannic and hard, despite having concentrated flavors of blackberry jam and black currant. It has plenty of structural integrity, and feels elegant in the mouth. Try holding it for a few years. If you drink it now, give it a few hours in the decanter. Editors' Choice
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Wine & Spirits
This is a blend from a range of blocks along the main ridgeline of the Alexander Mountain Estate, rising from 1200 to 1900 feet. In 2009, the fruit ripened to black cheery and chocolate depths and a dense, juicy and silken cabernet that needs little more than a thick cut sirloin.
While Sonoma County is acclaimed—and rightfully so—for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandels, it also produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the region’s 18 American Viticultural Areas, only a handful produce top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon. These appellations include Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley. Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons made in these appellations can offer a complex array of aromas and flavors. Fruit notes such as blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and raspberry often are accompanied by hints of graphite, dusty earth, cigar box, toast and vanilla. The varietal has a rich history in Sonoma, and some of these Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet-based blends rival the best from Napa Valley.