WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
Focusing first on the Cabernet fruit from our mineral-rich, volcanic soil sites nestled on the hillside slopes in the Alexander Valley. This vintage’s blend is uniquely crafted with a delicate inclusion of Malbec, and a hint of Merlot and Petit Verdot, showcasing intense black fruits enriched with lengthy velvety tannins.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
TASTING NOTES:
I tasted the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon in October, not long after it was bottled in August. Grapes were harvested October 5 through November 3. It was blended with 3% Malbec, 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and matured for 18 months in 55% new French oak barrels plus 10% concrete—a new aging vessel Aperture has started experimenting with. It has slowly unfurling scents of cassis, black cherry, dark chocolate, cast iron and floral hints. The full-bodied palate is impressively concentrated without over-ripeness, and its flavors are rich yet minerally. It has an haut couture frame of powdery tannins and refreshing acidity and a very long, elegant finish. It should be very long lived in the cellar.
Rating: 96+
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 pts.
Aromas of plums, blackberries, marionberries and red soil. Full-bodied and structured yet approachable, with abundant yet integrated tannins and a lot of earthy minerality in the finish. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling, 95 pts.
