Winemaking Notes

Food pairings

History

The Alexander Valley AVA is 22 miles long, ranging in elevation from 150 to 1,500 feet above sea level, and is home to our three single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Our winegrowers have found the very best grapes grow on higher elevated western slopes, or as they say, the sweet spots. Spread throughout our three vineyards, weve determined the best blocks are typically located just below the ridge tops with a western facing aspect to capture the full warmth and light of the afternoon sun. In the northernmost hills near our Brothers vineyard, with average growing-season temperatures of 67 degrees, heat dominates, allowing Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen well. In the middle of the valley, Rockaway vineyard, with average temperatures of 62 degrees, balances heat and Pacifi c Ocean cooling breezes allowing for classic structure development. The even cooler Alexanders Crown vineyard, with average temperatures of 59 degrees in the southern valley, yields more delicate, feminine style Cabernet Sauvignon. In the distance of only 12 short miles, average temperatures change eight degrees among our vineyards during growing season, thereby allowing three very different expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Vineyards

Established in 1971 and recognized as the fi rst vineyard in Alexander Valley to produce a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexanders Crown vineyard is perched on a hill in the south of the Alexander Valley just west of Jimtown. Encompassing 63 acres, the vineyard is in the fi rst part of the valley to feel cool Pacifi c breezes each afternoon. We use Block 1, the top 15 acres of well drained red volcanic soil to craft this wine, resulting in intensely fl avored Cabernet Sauvignon.