Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This cuvée comes exclusively from the historic Monte Bello vineyard, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California. The selected plots, mainly in the Klein Ranch section, express a cool, mineral mountain terroir, east of the Coast Range. The wine is labelled under the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.

The estate-grown, hand-harvested grapes are destemmed and sorted. The whole berries ferment with their native yeasts. Malolactic fermentation is carried out by naturally occurring bacteria. Ageing lasts nineteen months in air-dried American oak barrels, half new and half once-used, with minimal intervention.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry, dark plum, blackberry, black olive, soy sauce, cured meat, lilac, dried rose petal, cedar, juniper berry and fresh mint. Hints of gravel and pencil lead reinforce its mineral character. The fresh, precise palate unfolds a dense yet slender texture, supported by lively acidity and youthful tannins that gradually gain breadth. The finish is long, saline and intensely fruity.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors into California that boosted the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in Sonoma and Napa. At the start of the 20th century there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so much so that by 1933 only 140 wineries were still producing wine. It was not until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was then known mainly for fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were founded (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976 a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgement of Paris". It pitted the greatest French wines against the American newcomers. On 24 May, an unexpected result shook the wine world when, to everyone's surprise, the United States came out on top. Yet the competition remains fairly unknown to the general public. Today there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Although California largely monopolises the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.