93 Points - International Wine Report
93 Points - Owen Bargreen
Simply delicious! Pairs with anything from the meat aisle, from barbecue pork ribs, leg of lamb or big, hearty meals.
Winemaking
Home Ranch Vineyard delivered robust blueberry flavors and layers of silky tannins this vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon lots from neighboring vineyards in southern Sonoma Valley were blended in, resulting in a complex cuvée. The wine was aged for 20 months in 70% new French oak barrels from top coopers Darnajou, Taransaud and Bel Air.
Vineyard
The Home Ranch Cuvée is built on a core of clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Home Ranch Vineyard in southwest Sonoma Valley, planted by Sojourn proprietor Craig Haserot in 2002. Tight spacing and immaculate vine training result in evenly ripened grapes with tiny berries and loose clusters. Robust blueberry fruit aromas and big silky tannins distinguish Home Ranch Vineyard wines from most of its Sonoma Valley brethren.
Vintage
The 2018 Sonoma Valley vintage offered moderate weather, cool evening temperatures and a long, even growing season. The weather conditions were ideal and allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly over the course of summer and early fall. This allowed the grapes to gain flavor complexities and ripe tannins, while retaining natural acidity. The vineyards offered grapes of exceptional quality.
Analysis
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Vineyards: Home Ranch Vineyard
Varietal Composition: 100% berry-sorted Cabernet Sauvignon
Fermentation: Open-top fermentation, Native yeast
Aging: 70% New French Oak
pH: 3.73
TA: 6.1 g/L
Bottled June 2020
Cases Produced: 500
Alcohol: 14.6%
All Wines
90 Points
Ruby-plum core with a light purple rim in the glass. The palate opens with cranberry, cherry fruit and wood spice dominate. Cherry and plum notes pump through with a medium-bodied texture. Smooth tannins and soft finish showcase its layered complexity.
92 Points
Aromas of red raspberry, jammed dark fruit, cinnamon spice and clove. Hints of sliced ripe plum, black tea and lavender oil adds to its complexity. Flavors of blueberry, elderberry, and cranberry are enhanced with oak spice and baking notes from the barrels. These flavors marry with soft tannins for a long and mouthwatering finish.
92 Points
Juicy blackberries and black cherries accented by mint and chocolate. Full-bodied, deeply colored, with a hint of white pepper, dried herbs and toasted bread. Delivers a substantial mid-palate of dark fruits, black tea, baked cherry, fruit preserves and licorice. Sophisticated and sumptuous. A great example of the varietal, brooding with depth and complexity. Notes of toast and oak, with integrated tannins and textural polish on the finish.
