We all have a few names which trigger intense interest and not-to-be-missed allocations. And no, I am not talking about the boring To Kalon/Beckstoffer/GIII stuff #winebro capitulates to. For me: Monte Rosso. Yorkville. Oakville. San Simeon Creek. Shadow Canyon. Colson Canyon. Whitehawk. Les Galets. Inglenook. Bentrock. St. Helena. Arroyo Seco. Goldridge. Howell Mountain. Mohr-Fry. Scharf. Ripe and effusive in the glass, a burnt sorta crispy rustic decadence built on old vines and hillside terrain. Fruit coming through in spades and on ripe layers of berry and briar. Decanted heavily.
The cabernets of DCV get short-shrift in the grand scale of California wine–even more-so than Alex. The 99 sees this all as Zin country, which is a shame, considering the powerful cabs produced therein. Burnished and bruised blackberry chimes positive acid relevance across a palate reeking of deep beauty and concentration. Pithy pomegranate and cranberry provide high notes against sultry and savory black cherry in it for the long run. Dry and dusty, it matches the hot summer sun against slopes of volcanic and redwood-influenced madrone and manzanita detritus. A cab unlike almost everything you will drink this year and like NOTHING on the WS Top 100, because it’s REAL and vibrant and doesn’t play to the mainstream taste-buds of lais·sez-faire RS and maceration. This is a winery you need EVERY thing they produce in your cellar. I’ve loved them for decades and so should you.
2019 MEEKER Cabernet Sauvignon Scharf Family Vyd Dry Creek Valley Sonoma 14.8
Stephen McConnell 