Beringer Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
(Sonoma County, California) - [JS 97] [JD 91] [WA 91]

About the Winery:
Beringer Vineyards has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960's, when the Beringer family recognized that the cobbled alluvial soils were a great place to grow high quality wine grapes. The Knights Valley designation was first used on a Beringer label in 1974. Since then, they have garnered scores as high as 94 points and a rank #8 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list for the Reserve tier.

Vintage:
The beginning of the 2021 growing season came early, with extended periods of sunny weather and periods of late, but much needed, rain. The season was considered early, as a drought year, with the start being low on humidity. High heat and winds occurred at the beginning of May. The summer returned to more seasonal, expected temperatures, and even ripening led to an early harvest. Lower yields also contributed to the early start and showed intense fruit flavor development. Once harvest began, we saw clear skies throughout September and well into October. The fruit for this wine was picked from September 28th through October 6th, 2021

Winemaking:
We select the finest vineyard blocks from our Knights Valley Estate to make our Reserve, so a combination of vineyard block selections followed by an individual barrel selection, crafts this Reserve Cabernet. The fruit is also coming from heavier, rockier, gravely soil types at slightly higher elevations of 200-500 ft, which helps to contribute to the unique flavor profile and depth. To maintain the unique characteristics of the different lots from varying areas of the vineyard, they are kept separate through vinification and aging, and only the most expressive are chosen for this Reserve bottling. Extended maceration created more dominant tannins, enhancing the lush mouthfeel of the blend while extracting a maximum of color, aromas, and flavors. On average, the wine must remain on skins for 21 to 28 days. The fruit was aged in 100% French oak barrels (46% new) for 26 months, enhancing the rich mouthfeel and structure.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 2% Malbec

Vineyard:
Located in a remote and bucolic location in Sonoma County just 17 miles north of the Beringer Napa winery, Knights Valley lies in the shadow of Mount St. Helena with hilly terrain that descends to rocky, alluvial soils where ancient rivers once ran. Warm during the day, cool at night, this well-draining site produces bold and richly structured reds with intense dark fruit.

Tasting Notes:
The 2021 Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet is exemplary of this unique appellation, brimming with structure and elegance, accompanied by a pronounced, loamy minerality. The expressive nose and palate reveal ripe black cherry, black plum and blackberry notes, supported by spiced notes of vanilla bean, clove and cocoa nib from the well-integrated oak aging. Medium to full bodied with a plush texture that is saturated and savory, the wine exhibits a fine-grained, velvety mouthfeel with polished tannins, leading to a lengthy concentrated finish with black currant, lavender, wild sage, and thyme. Beautifully drinking upon release, but certain to age gracefully for many years to come

14.9% ABV