Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine we ooened is the 2012 Stonestreet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley Sonoma County, Healdsburg, California. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% parts Merlot and Malbec.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, fig, black currant, mint, licorice, chocolate, graphite, clove, cedar and earth.

On the palate is black cherry, blackberry, black currant, licorice, spice, herbs, black pepper, leather, gravel and earth.

This wine is full bodied with a smooth rich mouthfeel medium + acidity and medium + fine tannins that leaves you with a medium to long dark fruit earthy finish. Have a wonderful weekend and please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷

Decanting now, can you believe this is the only 2013 CA wine in our cellar?! All the rest is hiding, appropriately out of reach, in off-site storage. 👍

We tasted this at a walk-around in November of 2018, and I was impressed then...

Nose has chalkboard dust, milk chocolate, ripe plum, ripe raspberry, black cherry and cut green pepper (light).
Palate has chalky plum, ripe cherry, medium tannins, light green herbal notes, light toasted oak (few year old barrels?) and milk chocolate.

Very impressed at how approachable this wine is tonight after only about 2hrs of decant. Showing quite nicely at about 5 years past vintage. 2013 was very strong for CA, going to be legendary in my opinion; likely my favorite vintage in the prior 10 years.

Happy Valentine's Day 2019 to all.

In 1989, Jess Jackson acquired the Zellerbach winery and renamed it in honor of his late father, Jess Stonestreet Jackson. Aromas of red/black fruits with citrus notes and gentle spice. On the palate cherry and blackberry flavors, vanilla spice with currant tones. Fine soft tannins, great balance on lingering finish ending with oak and cacao. Great value, will cellar well. Tasting Sample.

In a restaurant last night and saw this on the wine list. In 1989, Jess Jackson acquired the Zellerbach winery and renamed it in honor of his late father, Jess Stonestreet Jackson. Aromas of red/black fruits with citrus notes and gentle spice. On the palate cherry and blackberry flavors, vanilla spice with currant tones. Fine soft tannins, great balance on lingering finish ending with oak and cacao. Great value, good now and will cellar well. Opened up nicely in about 45 minutes.

Another aged California Cab that was drinking beautifully. Bordeaux in style and very different from today's cabs.

Adding my notes from an International Cabernet tasting from May 2017. A rich plush wine in the Californian style although this is from the Alexander Valley (Sonoma) 98% Cabernet Sauvignon. A lot going on on the palate with Gravel Plum and Mocha. Oak notes coming through on the palate United Cellars who conducted this tasting also showed in southern capital cities and this was the consensus winner in Melbourne and Adelaide we were told.

1994 was a big year in California... the Northridge earthquake, OJ, Apple's Power Mac, Netscape Navigator, Green Day's Dookie, and this Cabernet from Stonestreet. This is the only one that's still relevant today.

Upon opening I could tell there was plenty left in the tank. I had my concerns, though, with how brett-y and damp the initial funk it gave off was, but the fruit was showing through. It needed 45 minutes before it was noticeably better. The surprise was how much it continued improving over the next two hours, leveling off at style reminiscent of 1989 Left Bank Bordeaux... an entanglement of dried black cherry, coffee, graphite, pipe tobacco, and dried herbs with an edge of pine, but with a slightly more pronounced oak influence. The hint of damp earth remains to linger in the background. I'm not sure I'd risk it, but this could probably go another decade. Superb.

#sonomawine havent had this wine for a wile the price has gone up over the rears but still quality juice!

Big, juicey cab that has some nice leather and meat notes too.

Amazing, lots of life left too!