In the late 1960s we bottled a few cases of Cabernet Sauvignon for friends and family. That homemade wine became the inspiration for our estate winery, Alexander Valley Vineyards. Decades later both our winery and our iconic valley are known as the home of world class Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2020 growing season enjoyed near-perfect growing conditions. The year began with unseasonably warm temperatures, and lower than normal rainfall. This was followed by weeks of steady daytime heat and cool evenings, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly. At harvest, the quality of the fruit was excellent with high acidity and intense flavors. The wine was aged for 14 months in 25% new French and American oak barrels.

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is easily recognizable as classic Alexander Valley with medium body, great fruit flavors and smooth, structured tannins. Winemaker Kevin Hall added Merlot for structure, and Malbec and Petit Verdot for color.

This is an elegant wine with earthy aromas of cassis, plum, cherry, vanilla, oak and slight chocolate. In the glass there are lush flavors of cherry, cassis, blackberry and chocolate. The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a structured wine with firm tannins and a chewy finish that evolves with each sip. While fruit forward upon release, this wine will reward those with the patience to lay down a few bottles.