2015 “Cooney Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon - Dutcher Crossing Winery

Crushed boysenberry, pipe tobacco, tart black currant. Fresh strawberry, dark roast coffee, sour Damson plum. A brawny and broad-shouldered blast of wild mulberry, blueberry, and dark cherry liqueur strikes with powerful energy and tension while intricately complicated by hints of dried rose, sandalwood, and scorched earth. Notes of shaved cedar, saddle leather, and asphalt emerge to provide bursts of muscular complexity while flecks of eucalyptus leaf, black tea, manzanita, and mint reveal higher-toned natural flair. Wafts of wild lavender, foraged flowers, and potpourri impart subtle waves of aromatic lift while cinnamon, vanilla, cumin, and paprika expose additional layers of elaborate spice. Deep within the dense and energetic attack impressions of iron, tar, and volcanic rock provide pops of underlying earthiness that are offset slightly by thyme, black pepper, and anise in a dusting of lightly bitter herbs. Intimidatingly brooding and serious on the palate thanks to a distinct sense of rugged power; exhibiting impressive intensity and structure while still remaining surprisingly approachable. Full bodied with pronounced gripping tannin supported by high acidity. This 2015 "Cooney Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon by Dutcher Crossing Winery is a bold, audacious, and age-worthy red from Sonoma's Alexander Valley.

Located in northeastern Sonoma County along the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, the Alexander Valley is one of Sonoma's warmest winegrowing appellations and happens to produce some of California's greatest red wine. This bottling, crafted by Dutcher Crossing Winery using Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Cooney Vineyard in the Alexander Valley, showcases the exceptional power and concentration this historic region is capable of creating. Made in a robust yet classic style this wine explodes in the glass with dense red and black fruit, lifted floral tones, and a unique and interesting medley of herbal and natural nuances. It is extremely structured and clearly quite ageworthy, and would be a lovely candidate to follow as it ages for a decade or more.