Owl Ridge
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
T.R. Passalacqua Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley

Critics Gold Award – 2005 Critics Challenge International Wine Comp.
Gold Medal – 2006 West Coast Wine Competition

Owl Ridge is quickly becoming one of our favorite wineries here at WineHeist, with vintage after vintage of beautiful Cabernet from Sonoma County.  This week we jump in the time machine and take you back to the 2002 vintage of their Passalacqua Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This Dry Creek Valley Vineyard seems to produce wines that perfectly walk the line between elegance and richness, with beautiful balance.  Quite simply, you are not going to find a better Cabernet than this for under $30, let alone under $20.

The 2002 Owl Ridge T.R. Passalacqua Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the meticulously farmed Passalacqua Ranch on the western hills of Dry Creek Valley.  At about 400 feet in elevation, this is still a fairly warm part of the valley, yielding ripe, juicy Cabernet.  The color of this wine is ruby to garnet, with almost no degradation of color at the rim even at 10 years of age, suggesting it still has time to mature.  The nose boasts definitive Cabernet aromas of kirsch, blackberry, and cedar, with hints of plum and vanilla.  The palate is loaded with black cherry and blackberry, with baking spice, pomegranate, and just the faintest hint of capsicum.  Still vibrant even at 10 years of age, this Cab shows a a creamy, cherry liqueur-like finish, with plenty of tannic grip suggesting it has many more years of life left in it.  Fans of California Cabernet will want to stock up on this one.

Winemaker:  Joseph C. Otos
Varietal:  Cabernet Sauvignon, T.R. Passalacqua Vineyard
Barrel Aging: 100% French Oak, 35% new.
AVA:  Dry Creek Valley
Alcohol:  14.3%
Total Cases Made:  600 750ml

Tasting Notes  PDF

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