2006 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation Selection

The Vineyards
Although we sourced Cabernet Sauvignon throughout the Alexander Valley, each of the vineyards is grown on gravelly, alluvial soils that perfectly suit Bordeaux varietals. These soils are very well drained and the depress vigor and vegetal flavors in the wine, while increasing concentration and finesse. 36% of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes came from the Lyon Vineyard from the Old Vine block containing Clones # 4 & 6. 22% of the Cabernet Sauvignon came from two vineyards from the Geyserville area, and the remaining 18% of the Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced throughout the appellation.

The Vintage
The 2006 vintage got off to a late start with later bud break for Red Bordeaux varieties. Spring was erratic, making the set normal and delaying the ripening season by two weeks. Summer was mild to moderate with just one heat wave in late July. However, the weather remained foggy and mild from August to late September. Fortunately, the we had summer-like weather in October and we were able to pick ripe, Alexander Valley Merlot and Malbec, followed by Petite Verdot. The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest commenced the last week in October and finished with the Lyon vineyard on November 6 th . We were also fortunate to have few rains, and the extra hang time helped to soften the tannins and add more opulence to the blend. Yet, this vintage was devoid of excessive vegetal aromas and flavors.


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Winemaking
We cold soaked both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, leading to a slow fermentation in the beginning. We warmed up the must mid-fermentation in order to fully extract color and flavor. The wine was pressed off of the skins before fermentation was complete, but only free run and light press fractions were used. The lots were racked once, then re-racked into both new and 1-year-old Tonnellerie Treuil French Chateau oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation was completed in barrels and assemblage took place in early Spring of 2006 using Merlot at this stage. We re-blended the wine 4 months later using Petite Verdot and Malbec, at which point the wine was aged in 1-year-old French barrels, along with 20% New “Grand Cru” Canton American Oak barrels.
Winemaker's Notes
This offering has typical black cherry and tea-like aromas, indicative of Alexander Valley Cabernet, but with nice shades of vanilla and toasty oak. Although this wine is not as plush or jammy as previous vintages, it has a silky texture with abundant black cherry fruit that makes it quite appealing now. It was crafted to be more elegant than powerful. It finishes soft with complex, earthy soil flavors. This wine is a joy to drink now, but will become more multi faceted aromatically and even more delicious and elegant with additional bottle age.
 
Mark R. Lyon, Winemaker
Technical Data
Appellation: Alexander Valley Composition:

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 6%Malbec, 4% Petite Verdot

Cooperage:

13 months in mostly French, some American oak

Alcohol: 14.2%
TA: 0.52 g/100ml pH: 3.71
Bottling Date: May 2008 Release Date: October 2008
   

Past Vintages:
 

Awards and Acclaim:

2005 VINTAGE

90 Points from The Wine News : "Dense garnet hue with reddish notes at the rim. Sweet notes with red fruit, orange peel, and pretty vanilla aromas. Chewy flavors on entry with pepper, black fruit and a good backing of acidity. Tart cherry flavorings on the finish with the accent of oak-laced tannins."

90 Points, ONE PUFF & GOOD VALUE from Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "The unqualified star of the current Sebastiani line-up of new Cabernets, this very rich offering is brimming with both oaky sweetness and deep, well-defined fruit. Its themes of ripe currants are laced with lots of vanilla, cocoa and cream, and its plush palatal feel is followed up with a measure of trim tannins. If thoroughly enjoyable now, it comes with a recommendation of three or four years of age. GOOD VALUE."

4 Stars from Restaurant Wine: "A supple, complex Cabernet, with full bodied, moderate richness, and fine balance with a persistent finish. It tastes of black currant, toast, spicy oak cedar, green bean and vanilla."

90 Points from Wine Review Online: "Sebastiani's Alexander Valley Cabernet is a pure, joyous expression of this famous appellation. Rich and fleshy on the palate, with soft tannins, wonderful intensity of aroma across the gamut of blackberry, black currant and black cherry flavors, and savory dried herbs as a back note. Weightier on the palate and slightly higher in alcohol than the Sonoma County Cabernet, the Alexander Valley is nevertheless a beautifully balanced Cabernet that will pair nicely with red-meat dishes laced with savory spices." --Robert Whitley

2004 VINTAGE

91 Points from The Wine News : "Big aromas of plum, smoked meat, baker’s chocolate, earth and graphite with herbal notes that dissipate with air.  Ripe, silky flavors of black currant, milk chocolate and espresso.  Citrus emerges in an otherwise plush finish."

88 Points from The Wine Spectator: "Shows aromas of mineral, pebb;e, black currant and dill. Tight and intense on the palette, turning complex and ending with chewy tannins. Best from 2009 to 2012."

Four Stars from Restaurant Wine : "A ripe, supple, full bodied Cabernet in a furity and lightly oaky style. It is fruity and near-jammy in flavor, with tea, tobacco, and spicy oak aromas/flavors. Medium length finish."

2003 VINTAGE

91 Points from The Wine Spectator: "A seductive style, ripe, rich and creamy both in flavor and in texture, with layers of currant, wild berry, plum and blackberry. The finish picks up chocolaty mocha notes and ends with a long, polished after-taste. Drink now through 2011."

90 Points from Wine Enthusiast: "Here's a classic Alexander Valley Cab from a winery that knows what it's doing. The wine is very soft but complex and elaborately tailored, with delicious blackberry pie, chocolate and cherry flavors that just don't stop coming. Fortunately, the tannins and acids are rich enough to stand up to the fruit."

2002 VINTAGE

91 Points-TOP VALUE from The Wine Spectator: "A rich, concentrated, deeply complex wine, laden with mocha, currant, blackberry and spicy anise notes. The tannins and oak flavors also have a strong presence, but the focus and depth of flavor are impressive. Best from 2006 through 2011." $28 "Three reds caught my attention in this issue. The Sebastiani Cab displays excellent depth and complexity for a wine at this price. It has blackberry and mocha flavors."

88 Points-One Puff and BEST BUY from Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine: "It is not secret that we count ourselves as real fans of Sebastiani's red wines of late, and this rich, oak-sweetened effort does not disappoint. It leans a little more strongly to vanilla, cappuccino and toast than it does to outgoing fruit, but its themes of cherries and cassis are only slightly removed from center stage. There is a slight oaky pucker at the edges of its tasty finish, and since the wine is not overly tannic, it should be wholly ready for enjoyable drinking in but two or three years' time."

2001 VINTAGE

92 Points-Highly Recommended, Annual Top Pick from The Wine Spectator: "Dark, plush and concentrated with pretty vanilla and mocha-scented oak, roasted coffee and pretty currant and wild berry flavors. The oak gives it an added flavor dimension and the texture is smooth and polished with ripe chewy tannins. Best from 2005 through 2011."

91 Points from Wine Enthusiast : "Absolutely lovely, so gentle and limpid you can't get enough. The flavors of blackberries, black cherries, dark chocolate and herbs are so sweet and ripe, while the tannins are lush, sweet and velvety. Combines drinkability with class and elegance."

Top 100 Wines of the Year from The San Fransicso Chronicle: "Supple and smooth, offering black c herry, cassis and plum flavors made more complex by hints of herb, chocolate and creamy vanilla. An excellent Cab for the price"

 

 

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