2017 Sonoma Valley "Montecillo Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Planted in the 1960s on a series of steep terraces, Montecillo Vineyard sits at 1725’ elevation on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains, above the town of Kenwood and just 680 yards from the Napa county line. In the 1970s and 1980s, fruit from this vineyard served as the backbone for Kenwood’s much acclaimed Artist Series Cabernets. Picked September 12th in this warm vintage, the fruit was fully destemmed and cold soaked for 5 days before fermentation began. After 20 days on the skins, the wine was pressed to all thin-stave French oak, 67% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark to dark ruby-garnet. Aromas of plums, red cherries, bittersweet chocolate, graphite, lavender, rosemary, and rose petal. This is one heck of a sniff! The wine enters the mouth with a silky, mid-weight texture, offering flavors of cherries and plums, mocha, and dried herbs before sinewy, mountain tannins build in the impressively long finish. This is no modern-day Cabernet but an age-worthy wine that harkens to another era. If opened now, pour off a glass, recork, and enjoy a day or two later. Otherwise, optimal pleasure should be 2029 through 2040. (MRO - 11/01/19)