Grapes for this varietal Sonoma Cabernet hail from the Sonoma Mountains, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley appellations. The fruit was cold soaked for four days but fermented warm, with two weeks of maceration on skins. Malolactic took place in French oak, about half new, where the wine reposed for fourteen months.
The color is brilliant plum ruby with a bright cherry rim, but it darkens aromatically, suggesting black and blue fruits, allspice, clove, cola, pipe tobacco and its ash. It’s slightly earthy, too, but with little of Cab’s hallmark herbal aspect—mostly the earthiness takes the form of a smoky sage back note. The body has firm, brooding tannins and drying texture, plus savory black and bitter herbs, black coffee, and again the tobacco and ash. Fruit is modest.
This wine is about structure and shadow.
14.2% abv | $25 (sample)
