2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, Estate Grown

THE VINEYARD:

Spread along 600 to 1,000 vertical feet of a sun-washed western slope of the Mayacamas range, our 100+ acre Amapola Creek ranch borders the highly acclaimed Monte Rosso Vineyards. The red, basaltic volcanic soils we share with our esteemed next-door neighbor have yielded superb wine for well over the last century. The rhyolitic soils from our China Bowl Vineyard add a firm tannin structure to the French clone Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted there in 2000. All 15 acres of our mountain estate vineyards are CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) certified organic. Estate vineyard blocks, China Bowl, Bobcat Run, Fox Trot Meadow, and Montaña Vista, were the sources for our 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. Using grapes from these distinct micro-climates and soil profiles allows us to showcase the diverse terroir of our vineyards.

VINTAGE: 

The weather during the growing season in 2017 was a great vintage for wine grapes, largely dry and warm, but not overly hot. We received a plentiful amount of winter rainfall after experiencing five years of drought. The rains were a welcome relief to the thirsty vines and replenishing much needed ground water. The quality and quantity of the fruit was exceptional. We handpicked these grapes September 20th through the 26th, 2017.

TASTING NOTES:

The nose on this wine opens with a luscious burst of juicy blackberry. Swirl the glass once or twice, and you will start to uncover darker fruit notes of black currant, bramble berry, accented with subtle notes of oak and toasted vanilla. Take a sip, and the first thing you will notice is a firm acidity that opens quickly into dark black fruit with just a touch of anise and a bare hint of leather. As your first impression fades, you will find deeply structured tannins that fill the palate, underscoring a finish redolent with chocolate, blueberry preserves, and aged cedar. This wine evolves marvelously over the course of a glass, growing bigger and bolder as it takes in the air. The tannins unfold and show the excellent maturity of the grapes as they were brought in from the vineyard, and the fruit characters gain in intensity, building to an intricate finish that lasts for many minutes. Drink now or hold for 10-plus years.