2019
Hamel family ranch
This single-vineyard expression is from the 120-acre property that contains the winery, cave and the Estate house. It lies at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Sonoma Valley. The warmest site across our estate vineyards, its eponymous Cabernet Sauvignon blends supple tannins with incisive minerality to deliver a wine with classic and powerful poise.
96 points
Jeb Dunnuck
“This full-bodied red is light on its feet, with notes of kirsch, soft, gravelly stones, and fresh herbs as well as fine tannins and good, fresh acidity. It’s drinking beautifully now or can be enjoyed over the next 10 or more years.”
—Audrey Frick, January 7, 2023
Profile
Resplendent with a deep ruby hue, rich aromas emerge from the glass of dark red cherry, plum and raspberry compote mingled with violets, wet earth and cigar box.
Full, firm and deep on the palate, the entry is generous and supple as the structure builds through a juicy, saturated mid-palate to a persistent and mouth-coating finish. Classic in profile and pedigreed for the cellar, the wine will continue to develop over the next ten years.
Vintage Notes and Technical Details
The 2019 vintage began with steady precipitation throughout the winter months, with a record of eighteen inches of rainfall occurring in February. On top of the wet conditions, cooler weather in February and March caused a later start to the growing season in April. An additional four inches of rain in May created healthy and strong vigor and growth in the vines through the end of July. The wet conditions of the spring were followed by a dry summer culminating with a warm August, allowing for optimal ripening conditions following veraison. With the abundant winter and spring rainfall and our dedication to farming without irrigation, we were able to dry farm 75% of our vineyards in 2019. The warm and dry conditions allowed the grapes to fully ripen, and harvest began with Sauvignon Blanc on August 27th and continued gradually throughout the first half of September. A dry heat wave beginning on September 24th accelerated the harvest, which was completed by October 7th. The 2019 wines will be defined by purity of fruit and bright freshness.
- Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Production: 375 Cases
- Appellation: Sonoma Valley
- Vineyard: 100% Hamel Family Ranch
- Fermentation: 43% Stainless Steel Tanks, 43% Oak Tanks, 14% Concrete Tanks
- Aging: 20 Months in 13% New French Oak Barrels, 87% Neutral French Oak Barrels
- Bottling Date: June 1, 2021
- Harvest Dates: September 24 – October 2, 2019
- Alcohol: 14.4%
Explore Our Vineyards
To capture the complexity of our vineyards’ volcanic terroir, we embrace a level of precision, scale and knowledge that reflects the geologic contours of our place.