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93 Points | Wine Enthusiast | Oct 2017
90+ Points | Wine Advocate | Apr 2017
Gold Medal | San Francisco Chronicle Competition | Jan 2017
Best of Class | San Francisco Chronicle Competition | Jan 2017
Tasting Notes
This is a rich and full-bodied Cabernet with deep, layered aromas and concentrated flavors of dark cherry, blueberry, vanilla bean and tobacco. The wine shows off firm, structured tannins and a luxurious, lingering finish.
Vintage Notes
Warm sunny days throughout the spring and summer months set the stage for a spectacular harvest in September 2014. The lack of rain meant that harvest began a little earlier than normal and was short in length, finishing up by the end of October. The temperate days leading up to harvest produced good yields of high-quality fruit with concentrated flavors, complex aromatics, and excellent structure.
Vineyard Notes
The fruit for our Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is grown at high elevations on sloped hillsides with good drainage. Climbing as high as 1400 feet along the sun-drenched, western-facing slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, the fruit sits well above the fog line. Naturally protected from the wind, dry hot days combine with bracingly cold nights which puts an element of stress on the vines resulting in small clusters, small berries, and intensified flavors.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes were hand-sorted and underwent a two-day cold soak prior to fermentation to extract optimal color and flavor. After primary fermentation, the wine was then aged in French oak barrels, 75% new, where it underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by 20 months of aging.
