PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
In pre-historic times, rock carried by a rampaging Russian River carved the Alexander Valley. The sedimentary rock left behind defines the vineyard soil, while the towering hills trap the summer heat like an oven.
VINEYARD
Rio Lago Vineyard has been owned and managed by the Horowitz family since 1990. Originally a small cattle operation with small vineyard plantings, Rio Lago sits at the western foothills of the Mayacamas Mountain range, and experiences one of the wettest microclimates within the Alexander Valley AVA. Planted in diverse clay-loams and silty-loam soils, grapes develop unique flavors creating wines with high levels of complexity. In the evening, the vineyard is cooled by marine air moving in along the Russian River from the Pacific Ocean. The combination of day-time heat to ripen grapes and evening air to cool them down promotes freshness, needed acidity, and phenolic ripeness, keys to producing ultra-premium quality Cabernet Sauvignon.
WINEMAKING
Grapes are hand-harvested at night, sorted, and gently destemmed. Fermentation is carried out by native yeasts and warms to temperatures peaking up to 100ºF. Wine is left on skins for 24 days, pumped over twice a day, then at peak fermentation, three times a day before dropping to once a day for the final 8 days. The wine is then gently pressed off into separate fractions for malolactic fermentation in barrel as it ages for 14 months in 50% new French oak.
TASTING NOTES
Rock Carved Cabernet Sauvignon offers succulent blackberry, plum and black currant flavors along with cedar, leather and mocha. It’s full-bodied, multilayered, and complex with balanced acidity, smooth, rich tannins and a long, lingering finish.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
