Winemaker's Notes
Beautiful cassis, purple plum and freshly tilled loam aromas with a mild toast and vanilla nuance presage the flavors by mouth. A bonus red and black cherry burst on the mouth lead to an uplifting, mouth-watering finish where the aromas and flavors bring the experience full-circle. This is more like the ‘old-style,’ ‘classic’ California Cabernet Sauvignon when more wines were actually made to drink with food and over a long time-frame rather than many recent examples on the shelf designed toward ‘reviewer points’ at release. Yet this wine is nicely still accessible in its youth, especially with food. Our minimal-racking, slow-aging regime requires nearly three years in barrel to develop our Cabernet Sauvignons, and I think is responsible for maintaining some of the perfume this variety can possess. This was bottled late last August and is just beginning to show its personality once again.
Judi Scherrer –
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar – May 2010
Bright ruby. Musky aromas of redcurrant, spices, flowers and exotic woodsmoke. Suave, perfumed and light on its feet, with the sweet red berry, smoke and spice flavors lifted by mineral and floral elements. Round, smooth and harmonious wine that finishes with supple tannins and very good subtle length. 90 points. Josh Raynolds
Judi Scherrer –
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar – May 2012
Vivid ruby. Lively, spice-accented aromas of redcurrant and cherry pit, with a smoky topnote. Bright and tightly wound, offering nervy red fruit and licorice flavors that gain breadth and sweetness with air. Closes on a tangy note, with very good, gently sweet persistence. Give this wine at least an hour in a decanter if you plan on drinking it any time soon. 90 points. Josh Raynolds
Judi Scherrer –
Wine Spectator – 2013
At a fine drinking stage, this is supple, complex and well-balanced, offering maturing dark berry, cedar-cigar box, black olive and savory herb notes. Drink now through 2024. 91 points. Jim Laube