Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
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Suckling
James
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
The deep, inky violet color gives the first hint of the mountain-derived intensity in the glass. Signature notes of Cabernet Sauvignon emerge in the aromas: plum, boysenberry, violet, cassis, cedar. Even more compelling are the undertones of cocoa, mandarin orange zest, jasmine blossom, sage, and other fresh herbs. The interplay of juicy acidity and fine-grained tannin characterizes the palate, one supporting the other as the wine unfolds seamlessly from entry to extended finish. Irresistible freshness and vibrancy suggest a degree of approachability unusual for such a wine in its youth, while the underlying structure leaves no doubt about the suitability for long-term cellaring.
Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of pine needles and flowers with mint and dark fruit. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and creaminess. Medium-to full-bodied with savory flavors, such as mushrooms and dried citrus, and a juicy finish. Firm and nicely austere at the end. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 3% cabernet franc.
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Eighteen years ago on the top of Spring Mountain, Henry and Vanessa Cornell purchased a plot of rugged, untamed ground on a former stagecoach route where vines had been tended by early settlers. With respect for the land foremost in their minds, they returned the rolling hillsides to vineyards. Two hundred wild acres with sweeping views contain twenty acres of obsessively farmed vineyard blocks, each with its own distinctive imprint. Under the guidance of winemakers Francoise Peschon and Elizabeth Tangney, Cornell Vineyards strives to make a Cabernet Sauvignon that is faithful to the diversity of this impressive land.
Straddling the Mayacama mountain range, the location is Sonoma County’s Santa Rosa high atop Spring Mountain. Cornell Vineyards is perched between 1600 and 1900 feet. This is the land where clouds pass so close you can almost reach out and touch them. Where terrain and weather are untamed. A frontier of wild yesterday’s where stagecoaches once traversed. Cornell experiences warm afternoons and cool, fog-free mornings. No scorching 100-degree heats like the valley floor gets. Bud break is later than the valley floor, as is the harvest. Stylistically Cornell picks earlier than many others.
Considered relatively small in terms of wineries in Sonoma, Cornell Vineyards are structured in 20 blocks for a total of 20 acres (approximately 30,000 vines). Bordeaux varietals are their focus: Cabernet Sauvignon (17 acres); Merlot (1 acre), Petit Verdot (1 acre); Malbec (one-half acre), and Cabernet Franc (one-half acre). Like many wine producers creating exceptional wines, Cornell Vineyards uses only a small percentage of the very best vineyard lots, 25 separate picks were conducted in 2014, only 36% of the harvested grapes ended up going into the final blend.
“The artistry comes in how we farm and then how we make and blend the wine. We are meticulously farming each of our 20 vineyard blocks differently — many of which are half-acre sizes. We do this because each is so unique and represents its own microclimate and a different blend of our five soil types. What that means is that there is a lot of hands-on farming going on here and that we’ve come to know each section of the vineyard and understand its personality.” Elizabeth Tangney, Viticulturist
While Sonoma County is acclaimed—and rightfully so—for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandels, it also produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the region’s 18 American Viticultural Areas, only a handful produce top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon. These appellations include Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley. Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons made in these appellations can offer a complex array of aromas and flavors. Fruit notes such as blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and raspberry often are accompanied by hints of graphite, dusty earth, cigar box, toast and vanilla. The varietal has a rich history in Sonoma, and some of these Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet-based blends rival the best from Napa Valley.