Winemaker Notes
Deep and bright red, this is an elegant mouthwatering, fruit forward wine. With grit and power it shows well the volcanic origins of the Meagre Soil on which it grows. Baked plum and cassis and black pepper. Mineral backing of wet slate. High acid gives depth to the tannins. Long finish, attractive wine will age well.
Best with fatty foods such as cheese, steak, roast duck, and pork shoulder.
Professional Ratings
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The Somm Journal
Alice Warnecke Sutro brands this world-class expression as a "volcanic woman-powered vine-to-bottle wine." We find it incredibly silky and juicy, with balanced intensity. Sweet soil notes, black cherry, and sage are well-integrated partners.
Intimately tied to the land where the grapes are grown, Alice Sutro grew up and where she now raises her kids: Warnecke Ranch and Vineyard. Alice’s grandfather established the vineyard in 1973 in the Mayacama Mountain foothills, where Volcanic bedrock meets the banks of the Russian River. Sustainable, regenerative and Carbon-friendly farming practices reflect Margo Warnecke Merck's dedication and passion as vineyard manager and managing partner for the family grape growing business. Alice assists her aunt Margo in managing the vineyard and is the first in her family to produce vineyard designate wines from Warnecke Ranch under the label SUTRO.
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.