WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
Rancho Chimiles, the classic California ranch high in the mountains east of Coombsville, is the home of the Cabernet Franc at the core of our perennially impressive blended red wine, CERRO SUR. These mature vines, in this very special terroir, produce a wine of singular character, aromatic enthusiasm, and fresh, focused flavors. After careful sorting, the grapes are carefully monitored through fermentation and maceration, giving the wine a fine texture and a narrow focus. This is followed by 22 months of aging in 50% new French oak barrels, and bottling without fining or filtration, giving the wine a depth and generosity that is incredibly appealing and age worthy
69% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon
TASTING NOTES:
More meaty notes of red and black currants, mulled cherries, tobacco, roasted herbs, and chocolate emerge from the 2018 Cerro Sur, and this beauty brings full-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate depth, and building tannins on the palate. This rich, meaty, expansive, beautifully textured 2018 has plenty of up-front appeal yet should benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years in cold cellars.
- Jeb Dunnuck, 97 pts
A brooding wine, the 2018 Cerro Sur is decidedly dark and potent in feel. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, licorice and cloves all add to its inward, virile personality. I imagine the 2018 will be superb in another few years, but I also imagine it will always be a rather somber wine. Time in the glass does wonders, but I would plan on a few years of cellaring.
- Vinous, 96+ pts
