Hidden Gem: This wine is a beautiful expression of high-elevation Cabernet Franc grown in California. The Red Hills sub-Ava in Lake County has iron-rich soil, translating into complex, fully flavored wines with red berries, dark plum, sweet cigar, and star anise on the nose. The flavors on the palate are high-energy, bright, raspberry, Mulberry, Sage, orange, and vanilla cream, with supple acidity creating a mouth-watering finish.— Tonya Pitts
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Platinum Award winners at The 2020 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Block Three 2016 96 points Winemaker Mitch Hawkins is currently producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon ever…
2014 Petite Sirah / 92 Points / Wine Enthusiast
This full-bodied and impressive wine matches the intense tannins of the variety with equally intense fruit flavors for good balance on a very big frame. Bright blueberry and blackberry aromas lead to effusive black-fruit and dried fruit flavors, accented by dark chocolate.
2022 Block Three / 93 Points / Tasting Panel
Still youthful in demeanor, this wine possesses a savory, earthy Old World character that reveals itself through graphite, Italian herbs and defined tension and grip. Acidity rears up, adding freshness to a flow of black raspberry.
2016 Block Three Cabernet Sauvignon / Vinography
Very dark garnet in color, this wine smells of black cherry and cassis. In the mouth, rich black cherry flavors have a decent lift thanks to good acidity, and hints of cola and tobacco as the wine finishes under a gauzy blanket of tannins. Dark and rich and thankfully not marred with excessive oak treatment.
2016 Block Three Cabernet Sauvignon / 94 points / Tasting Panel
From the estate’s 18-acre biodynamic mountain vineyard at 2,00o feet elevation, we are constantly in awe of the dynamism of these wines. Starting with rocky, red volcanic soils and aged for 25 months in French oak, this small production red (95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) offers up violets and iron on the nose. Chalky, dry cocoa-cherry wood tannins produce a thrilling mouthfeel. Muted dried blue flowers and Italian herbs are saturated by black cherry.
2019 Petite Verdot “Beautifully balanced”
This Petite Verdot has a very fragrant nose with macerated black cherries and crème de cassis enveloped in a veneer of creamy oak that does not impede the fruit. The palate is full-bodied with a salacious dark, creamy cassis and chocolate-tinged fruit on the entry. It is beautifully balanced, with a long, sensual finish that demonstrates just what this esoteric variety can do in the right hands. It should last for 15 years in the cellar.
