Professional Ratings
- 92 points – James Suckling: “A fresh, mineral-driven nose” with red currants, cassis, tea leaves, red peppercorns, bright acidity, and lingering spice.
- 93 points – Somm Journal (winery fact sheet).
- Gold Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
- Gold Medal – Monterey International Wine Competition.
Tasting Notes
A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of cassis, plum, cherry, anise, chocolate, and oak lead to flavors of blackberry, cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate. Firm tannins and balanced acidity provide structure and aging potential.
Overall Review
A classic Alexander Valley Cabernet offering excellent value, combining ripe Sonoma fruit with elegance and restraint. Medium- to full-bodied, with smooth tannins, dark-fruit depth, and subtle spice, it is approachable now yet capable of developing further complexity over the next several years.
Alexander Valley Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the first wines we produced in 1975 and three and a half decades later it is still our flagship wine. From the beginning our Cabernet stood apart from other California cabs because it was an elegant old world style wine.
The climate in the southern end of the valley defines our Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Warm days during the growing season allow the grapes to ripen evenly and develop flavor. The fog rolls in before sunrise each morning, lowering the temperature; which cools the grapes and maintains the acidity. Our estate vineyards are home to all five Bordeaux grapes, planted on the terraces, bench lands and hillsides of our valley where the soil is predominately a gravelly clay loam. Water from irrigation and precipitation drains away quickly, which allows the vines to be stressed, leading to smaller grapes and lower yields with more concentrated flavors. Each lot is picked, crushed and fermented separately to maximize complexity. We barrel age for 14 months, then blend to create a complex Cabernet Sauvignon that is enjoyable as soon as you pull the cork.
