2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Nalle Winery

Tart juicy blackberry, young cedar, fresh red cherry. Almost-ripe strawberry, green tobacco, cranberry puree. Violet petal and fresh lavender, tree bark and eucalyptus leaf. Crunchy boysenberry, mixed currants, and licorice highlight surprisingly pure, elegant, and high toned aromatics that are complicated brilliantly by thyme, dill, and bouquet of fresh garden herbs. Bright floral overtones of rose and potpourri emerge to beautify the wild yet delicate fruit as subtle bell pepper imparts a pleasant pyrazinic kick. Bitter chocolate and ground coffee beans emerge on the palate bringing a sense of palpable seriousness that remains unwavering despite a mild dusting of vanilla and clove. Memorable impressions of parched earth and sandstone round out the lean, pretty, and restrained attack. Feminine and classic in style, showing a stern and sincere edge backed by old school balance and sensibility. Medium in body and surprisingly red-fruited in composition with elevated levels of tannin and acidity. Tart, fresh, and noticeably unmanipulated. This 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon by Nalle Winery in an incredibly authentic and delicious throw-back California Cabernet from Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley.

While the style of most Cab produced in California has evolved dramatically over the last 50 years a few staunch producers can still be found that continue to follow a more traditional approach. This bottling, crafted by Nalle Winery using Cab Sauv and a bit of Merlot sourced from their estate in Dry Creek Valley, is an outstanding example of a modern producer continuing the legacy of classically-styled Cali Cab. From the first moment it hits your glass this wine quickly differentiates itself in the best possible of ways. It is noticeably fresh and bright, possessing a remarkable purity of red-fruited vigor that is rarely found in domestic Cabernet today. This wine manages depth without excess concentration, complexity without excess ripeness, and energy without excess power. It is well made, flawlessly balanced, and delightfully fun. A beautiful age-worthy Cab that brilliantly eschews modernity for tradition.