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94 pts., | James Suckling
Tasting Notes
This bold mountain-grown Cabernet opens with intense aromas of blackberry, cassis, and dark chocolate, layered with notes of espresso, toasted oak, and graphite. The palate is rich and structured, showcasing concentrated dark fruit, savory spice, and a hint of cedar. Firm, well-integrated tannins and balanced acidity carry through to a long, powerful finish marked by cocoa nib and mineral complexity.
Vintage Notes
Cooler temperatures and an abundance of spring rains in 2023 pushed back the first day of harvest to the beginning of September. The later start and extra ripening time for the fruit allowed flavors and color to develop slowly for depth and concentration. Warm fall days spread harvest out past the end of October for many of the red varieties, with a final pick of Merlot delivered to the winery on November 2.
Vineyard Notes
The fruit for this robust Cabernet Sauvignon comes from one of Sonoma’s newest American Viticultural Areas (AVA), Moon Mountain District of Sonoma County. This striking region is lauded for its high-elevation vineyards and rugged, volcanic soil. Rising from 400 to 2200 feet on the western side of the Mayacamas, the Moon Mountain District has thin, fast-draining soil and hot, dry summer days, ideal conditions to grow deeply colored grapes with intense, concentrated flavors.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes underwent a two-day cold soak to extract optimal color and flavor, and each individual component was fermented separately to optimize structure and tannin integration. Secondary, malolactic fermentation occurred in French oak barrels, French Oak, 50% New, followed by 15 months of aging before final blending and bottling.
