Cabernet Sauvignon "Estate", Alexander Valley Vineyards, CA, 2021 (Wetzel family & Kevin Hall)

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.