Winemaker Notes
Sourced from one of Stonestreet's highest elevation vineyards, the 2014 Rockfall Cabernet Sauvignon features a vibrant wildness that aptly expresses its rugged growing site above the fog-line. Bold aromas of Santa Rosa plum, black cherry and dark chocolate overlay nuanced undercurrents of bramble, mulling spices and black peppercorn. This powerful wine’s classically savory palate also displays hints of blueberry and sweet tobacco leaf, which lie in perfect balance to its generous structure and dense tannin profile.
Vegan
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall Vineyard has a warm black currant cordial and preserved plums-based nose with touches of new leather, spice box, chargrill and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate provides generous, mouth-filling black fruit and savory layers, framed by firm tannins and finishing on a fruity note.
Rating: 93+
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.
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.