Scents of brioche, raspberry, vanilla-poached fig, and a wealth of florals including rose and violet shimmer across this 100% Cabernet Franc. Juicy yet silky, the palate is in line with the nose while adding touches of peach, pomegranate, and peppery fennel to the mix.
Here’s a serious rendition of Zinfandel with evident oak influence as well as 15.7% alcohol that is—impressively enough—barely evident. Sure, there’s lots of big, brambly fruit, but it shows no raisin-like notes and the wood melds very nicely with the fruit, which offers a big bundle of mixed berry fun.
An excellent example of a trend toward California Sauv Blanc that expresses the character of the variety without blaring it. Russian River’s cool climate shows in the wine’s refreshing acidity, but it isn’t sharp or overly tart, just as the bouquet is subtly herbal and grassy but certainly not pungent. Medium-bodied palate impressions are complex yet harmonious.
Buoyant, pillow-soft mouthfeel engages with crystal-clear notes of pear, vanilla custard, and graham cracker. Well balanced.
Unrelenting waves of minerality tangle with vanilla bean. Streamlined notes of peach and white pepper are platformed on butterscotch, which stretches to the long finish.
A stunning 100% Grenache, aged 20 months in a mix of French barriques and puncheons. This is a palate grabber (let it sit for about 30 minutes until diving in) with cinnamon-raison, black cherry, and vanilla bean. Racy acidity brightens with orange peel and cranberry. A Chateauneuf-du-Pape approach, with California sunshine.
A plot of 130-year-old vines produced grapes aged in flavor-neutral concrete vats for six months, letting the fruit hold center stage. Notes of red and black berries are accented with little whiffs of savory herbs and cracked pepper. Acidity and tannin stand in essentially perfect proportions to the fruit. A purported workhorse that shows itself a thoroughbred.
Very well crafted and quite versatile in style, this rings true to Cabernet’s reputation for rich, robust flavors while finishing with sufficiently soft structure. Aromas and flavors of blackberries and dark cherries are pure and very appealing, its firm tannins without any drying effect.