2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Description
Winemaking Notes
This powerful Cabernet Sauvignon from the hillsides of Alexander Valley has aromas of lush, red plum and dark berries that dominate the glass, while hints of cassis and milk chocolate play in the background. The dried fig and chewy tannins give this wine a strong backbone, while the 24 months of barrel aging have softened this bold wine just enough to enjoy now with a cheese and charcuterie board, filet mignon with grilled vegetables or a dark chocolate mousse. Drink over the next 5 to 7 years.
History
Rodney Strong recognized in the late 1960s that Sonoma County's Alexander Valley was an exceptional area for heat loving Cabernet Sauvignon. He planted our first Cabernet vineyard in 1971, Alexander's Crown, on a small hill in Jimtown, and the reputation for fine Sonoma County Cabernet has never looked back. Today we have three exceptional Cabernet vineyards, from Jimtown to Geyserville, and all the way north to Cloverdale, planted in the well-drained alluvial, volcanic, and uplifted shale/sandstone soils that make Sonoma County an ideal place for this noble grape.
The Vineyards
2019 was another fantastic vintage in California. In Sonoma County it started with a copious amount of rain saturating the soil in late winter and early spring. Early summer heat waves acclimated the vines to warmer weather, which allowed the grapes to withstand a later heat spell in August, moving the sugars higher and allowing flavors to ripen.