Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This is what I look for in California Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark fruit, silky tannins, and underlying minerality all brought together in balance and harmony. I love my job.

Decanted for an hour, giving it time to open up. Dark fruit, very firm tannins, bright acidity and iron minerality all interwoven. Barrel-aged 20 months in French barriques (15% new), it's still a baby. Landing soon in Illinois, woohoo!

Quite the baby since it's not even released yet, but has plenty of potential. From 40+ year-old vines from Todd Bros Ranch in red volcanic soils, just bottled last month after 18 in French barriques. Minerality of the soil jumps out of the glass right away, but needs air to let the fruit and tannin really come into play.

Opaque garnet with lifted cassis, violet black cherry vanilla and toasted oak aromas. Medium bodied with good structure. Shows black cherry, cassis, a bit of plum and spiced vanilla flavors wits dusty tannins. Lingering sweet finish

Not grabbing a bunch on the nose. But I’m a bit out of practice. first sip opens up with dark moist plum. A true mouth bouquet- I was worried about this given the age and fear of storage, but this sings a song. Very light on the tongue. Vanishing finish. Bit of a fruit skin shock at the very end.

Luv the Todd Brothers Ranch! Dashe really knows how to work w that vineyard and get the best out of the great fruit the cultivate. Fantastic with a steak- the dark and tannins (decanted it) were balanced and presented an elegant wine. Drink now! But could also hold a little longer for a softer wine.

Wine of the night. Very expressive with impressive texture and body. Will continue to be great for a few years.

So at 10+>yrs the fruit is fresh as a daisy. The wine is still purple. It has pure wonderful fruit in a wine that could have a long life ahead but there is a bitterness to the tannins almost a greenness (but not greenness, as I like that in Cab) that I'm not sure will dissipate. If it does the wine will be brilliant in 5 years. If not all one would be left with is bitter no fruit. Well Ill never know as this was my only bottle. I have seen this not so lovely attribute in other Alexander Valley Cabernets before and didn't like then either. Terroir is real.
With lamb stew and mash.

Day 2 the tannins way less bitter. Will improve in bottle

Great Alexander valley Cab

Let this one breath for a about an hour and it ends up being a complex flavorful wine with a great finish