Aperture 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

6 Points                                                                                          Amazing new discovery! Aperture Cellars is a great up-and-coming label from Sonoma's Alexander Valley. Limited. 96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "I tasted the Aperture 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon in October, not long after it was bottled in August. Grapes were harvested October 5 through November 3. It was blended with 3% Malbec, 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and matured for 18 months in 55% new French oak barrels plus 10% concrete—a new aging vessel Aperture has started experimenting with. It has slowly unfurling scents of cassis, black cherry, dark chocolate, cast iron and floral hints. The full-bodied palate is impressively concentrated without over-ripeness, and its flavors are rich yet minerally. It has an haut couture frame of powdery tannins and refreshing acidity and a very long, elegant finish. It should be very long lived in the cellar."  95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Aperture 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, youthful, coating red color and reveals aromas of Amarena cherries and pure fresh flowers. It has all the components of Aperture’s top wines, with a very appealing, accessible tone. Fresh lavender and pretty blue fruit shine through, alongside 55% new oak. Ripe and long on the palate, it has a chocolaty, refined, velvety texture and a clean finish. Drink 2026-2040." 94 Points Vinous: "Opaque garnet in the glass, the Aperture 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is everything you could want from a modern Sonoma County Cabernet. Varietal signatures abound, with black olive, tomato leaf, sage and gravel underscoring a core of sweet red/blue berry preserves, but this is another wine that needs several years of time to shed some of its serious tannic heft. A creamy mid-palate provides a beautiful canvas for the freshness of the vintage to shine. This is a screaming value at $75."  The Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon is a silky, concentrated expression of the great Cabernet vineyard sites in Sonoma County.  A beautiful mixture of red and dark fruits are combined with spice, earth, and a bit of dark chocolate on the finish. This wine showcases a unique balance of richness and focused natural bright acidity that only the great sites and vintages can create. Produced from exceptional Sonoma Cabernet (96%) and Malbec (4%). Winemaker Jesse Katz has worked with Bob Foley at Hourglass and at Screaming Eagle, working alongside renowned winemaker Andy Erickson. As winemaker for both Lancaster Estate and Roth Estate, Jesse brought to bear his handcrafted style of terroir driven winemaking in producing their most highly acclaimed wines.  In addition to making all wines at Aperture Cellars, Jesse also produces the 100% allocated wines for his cult brand, Devil Proof Vineyards.