Aperture Cellars Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
(Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California) - [IWR 100] [JD 98] [WA 97] [JS 96] [DM 95]

About the Winery:
Founded in 2009 by first-generation winemaker Jesse Katz, Aperture was born from a desire to craft California wines with the elegance and structure of the best Bordeaux estates. Katz—who previously worked at legendary estates like Pétrus and Screaming Eagle—focuses on cool-climate, high-elevation vineyards that bring out vibrant acidity and silky, refined tannins.

Aperture Cellars is so-named because the company is a collaboration with his father, Andy Katz, a professional photographer (an “aperture” is the opening in a lens through which light passes into a camera; it’s Andy’s photography on all the labels.) At Aperture, the wines shed light on what Bordeaux varieties in the cooler pockets of Sonoma are capable of. Warm, sunny days and brisk nights ensure that every bottle bursts with freshness, no matter how generous the fruit. None other than Wine Spectator has described our wines as “plump, intense and juicy” while remaining “clean and complex.”

About this Wine:
The 2022 Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon showcases refined power from its southeast Alexander Valley hillside. Planted in 2000 on a 4-acre, steep south-facing slope from Clone 337, its chalky volcanic soils and minimal organic material create concentrated, complex fruit with soft tannins and rich dark flavors.

Technical Information

APPELLATION: Alexander Valley
VARIETAL: Cabernet Sauvignon
BLEND: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
SOIL TYPE: Chalky Volcanic Soils
BARREL PROGRAM: Aged 22 months 100% new oak, 60 gallon French oak barrels

Vineyards: From one of the steepest hillside vineyards at the top of Chalk Hill Road in the southeast corner of Alexander Valley, this exquisite site creates incredibly gorgeous wines with delicate, soft tannins that melt into the juicy dark fruits of this powerful cabernet.

Ratings & Reviews

100 Points - International Wine Review:
"The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Del Rio Vineyard is a wine of immense character and grandeur, shaped by 22 months in 100% new French oak and crafted exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass, it presents an impenetrable inky purple color, hinting at its power and concentration. The bouquet is layered and evocative, offering aromas of blackberry preserves, black plums, crushed cedary herbs, pipe tobacco, sage, pencil shavings, and wilted rose petals. Each swirl reveals new facets, enhancing its intrigue. On the palate, this wine delivers remarkable depth and authority. Flavors of blackcurrant liqueur, macerated cherries, dark chocolate, and savory thyme unfold in waves, framed by firm yet velvety tannins. The texture is bold and commanding, yet there’s an underlying refinement that emerges with every sip. A bright vein of acidity lends vibrancy, seamlessly balancing the wine’s density. The finish is staggeringly long, echoing with layers of spiced fruit, earthy undertones, and hints of crushed stone. Built for the ages, this wine promises to evolve beautifully over the decades. Don’t touch this one for another 2-3 years. About 340 cases produced. Highly recommended and editor’s choice."

98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The fruit from the morning side of this steep hillside site was picked first and used for the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Del Rio Vineyard. An inky black/red color, the wine is forward and ripe with notes of tobacco, blackcurrants, plum skin, wild herbs, pine, and violets. It’s fleshy and full, yet it maintains a mouthwatering freshness, with its richer tannins emerging on the mid-palate and finish. It’s highly floral and has notes of tea leaf on the finish. Drink 2027-2050." - Audrey Frick (Jul 2025)

97 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Del Rio Vineyard is impressive in light of the severe Labor Day heatwave that bifurcated the vintage. “We picked the a.m. side and the p.m. side separately,” winemaker Jesse Katz says. “The afternoon side got hammered, and none of it went into this wine. This is all the a.m. side.” The remaining grapes were optically sorted, and the wine was matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak. It opens with a well of black plums, blueberries and black cherry compote, unfurling to nuances of aniseed, garrigue, chocolate and turned earth. The palate offers layer after layer of ripe fruit, spice and floral character, and its new oak is well integrated. It’s structured by velvety tannins and mouthwatering acidity and has a very long, layered finish. 340 cases were made." - Erin Brooks (Dec 2024)

97 Points - Tasting Panel:
This is one of the Site Series from Winemaker/Proprietor Jesse Katz, his collection of single vineyard selections crafted for their specific soil types. Del Rio Vineyard is planted on a steep, south-facing slope on chalky, volcanic soils. Brandied cherries, graphite, and a coat of black licorice unite in a luxurious bath of suede-lined tannins. Violets bloom mid-point, with undercurrents of espresso and Worcestershire. It fills the mouth and saturates the soul.

96 Points - James Suckling:
"An intensely concentrated but pure and luxurious wine made from a steep hillside vineyard. It brings a posh blend of blueberries, blackcurrants and dark chocolate on firm, polished tannins. Fantastic personality, with roses, potpourri and savory wild herb nuances. Aged in 100% new French oak. Drink or hold." (Mar 2025)

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"From white, chalky volcanic soils, this Cabernet Sauvignon shows a mineral-driven tension that sets it apart. The nose is compact yet refined, featuring floral and dry spice notes, graphite, fresh herbs, and dark, juicy berries. The palate is firm and linear, with a powerful presence. The wine spent 22 months in 100% new French oak, which is well integrated and adds polish to the wine’s naturally sharp edges. Somewhat approachable now, but another Aperture wine that will cellar gracefully for many years." (Apr 2025)