Harvest 2015 Wine Club Newsletter
HISTORY OF CABERNET IN SONOMA; WITH SEBASTIANI BEING A LEGACY In 1961, August Sebastiani made a big commitment to this shy bearing varietal. He ripped out an older, Cherry Grove nearby the winery in order to plant 9 Acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. These vineyards are still producing our finest Cabernet to this day! This circa 1961 Cabernet block went into the Proprietor s Reserve Cabernet thru the 60 s to the 70 s; which was arguably the finest Cabernet from Sonoma County at that time. With the passing of his father, the first son Sam called it Eagle Vineyard and made a single vineyard bottling from the 1980 to 1983 Vintage. He had a commissioned artist to paint the American Bald Eagle every vintage, which was subsequently printed on the label. It was also the first Sebastiani wine aged in French Oak barrels and with a Sonoma County appellation. When August s wife, Sylvia, decided to change management in 1985, August s second son, Don Sebastiani, decided to change the name of the vineyard from Eagle to Cherryblock. The name was derived from there being a cherry grove prior to being planted. Since the mid-80 s, I have been the winemaker for Cherryblock Single Vineyard Cabernet, along with the Sonoma County Cabernet. Through the years, Cherryblock developed as a cult Cabernet with limited production and being highly sought after. Like August, Cabernet has been a personal passion of mine through making and growing Cabernet from my own vineyard. Both wines have enjoyed spectacular success, and this can be traced to having great Cabernet vineyards going into these bottlings! Our 2013 Sonoma County Cabernet continues its success in the marketplace by being a more approachable Cabernet style that doesn t require extensive cellaring to be enjoyed. Never the less, it can be aged and develop into an even better Cabernet with a few more years upon release. It gets its grapes from two great Cabernet areas in California - Alexander and Sonoma Valleys. It is skillfully blended with other Bordeaux red varieties such as Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec and Ruby Cabernet. We age this wine in mostly American Oak barrels to create our own style of wine that shows the subtle, vanilla and coconut flavors derived from the American Oak. It is by far, the best-selling wine from our portfolio due to its inherent drinkability and value! Our 2013 Old Vines Cabernet is our best effort yet! It is a blend of Older Vine blocks from both Cherryblock (planted in 1961 by August Sebastiani) and my vineyard in Alexander Valley (planted in 1973 by Rodney Strong). It represents both why blending of the two regions (Sonoma and Alexander Valleys, respectively) can often make a better wine than on it s own! It is also a retro-cabernet style (i.e., under 14% alcohol) showing elegant restraint and classic Cabernet red fruits expressions (black cherry, cola, berry). This style represents the true legacy of Sebastiani, coming from the only two Cabernet Old Vine blocks remaining in Sonoma County! Finally, it is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon blend in order to showcase older vines unique flavor and concentration! Lastly, we are crafting the finest Malbec to date, coming from Alexander Valley. It comes from a 1-acre block from my vineyard; grown on very gravelly soils nearby the Russian River. These soils are ideal for Malbec! It was thinned to reasonable production to have even more concentration. It was also blended with 16% Old Vines Cabernet from both my vineyard and Cherryblock to add structure and depth. It has Malbec spice on the aroma and finish, but voluptuous dark fruits and soft acidity. Malbec is a great wine with grilled meats, as is the tradition in Argentina! I hope you enjoy your winter shipment with your friends and family this holiday season and come visit us at the winery soon! Mark Lyon, Winemaker
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON SONOMA COUNTY Our 2013 Sonoma County Cabernet is dark ruby in color with enchanting aromatics ranging from blackberry to mild cassis that interplay with hints of cocoa and mild leafiness. The flavors are elegant and ripe, with black fruits on first attack followed by layers of coconut and a vanilla finish due to the American oak barrels. This medium-bodied wine is richer and more structured than the 2012. Very drinkable now! Retail Price: $19.00 Wine Club: $14.25 Reorder Price: $13.30 Appellation: Sonoma County Composition: 76.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.6% Merlot, 6.6% Malbec, 6.5% Ruby Cabernet, 1% Petit Verdot, 1.8% Mixed Reds Aging: 10 months in primarily American oak barrels Alcohol: 13.98% 0.58 g/100ml ph: 3.74 2013 MALBEC ALEXANDER VALLEY Dark purple to red in color, this 2013 displays aromas of peppery spice, currants, and espresso oak. Fruit-forward expressions of juicy raspberry are complemented by hints of damp earth, forest floor, and mulled spices. The finish does not disappoint and has lingering flavors of dried leaves and spice with nice acidity. Due to the ripeness of the vintage this Malbec is more hedonistic and drinkable. I believe it is our best Malbec to date! This is a great wine to pair with pizza and any tomato-based sauce. Retail Price: $29.00 Wine Club: $21.75 Reorder Price: $20.30 Appellation: Alexander Valley Composition: 84% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon Aging: 12 months in Hungarian and French oak barrels Alcohol: 13.9% 0.54 g/100ml ph: 3.56
2014 ROUSSANNE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY Medium gold in color, this Roussanne embodies the classic features of its Rhone heritage. On the nose, the wine has floral and honeysuckle notes. The floral characteristics then carry through to the palate leading into flavors of candied citrus and white peach. Its racy acidity and firm minerality make it a great accompaniment to seafood and roast chicken. Retail Price: $19.00 Wine Club: $14.25 Reorder Price: $13.30 Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley Composition: 100% Roussanne Aging: 8 months in French oak barrels Alcohol: 14.1% 0.6 g/100ml ph: 3.28 2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON OLD VINE, SONOMA COUNTY Dark ruby red in color, this charming 2013 is swarming with aromas of currants, dark cherry fruits, and tobacco leaf. Not overly fruit forward, this wine has flavors of intricate black cherry and wild berry fruits that are interlaced with graphite and bergamot tea on the palate. Soft tannins and nice acidity are immediately evident on the finish. The lingering flavors of dried herbs de Provence and cola berry are the key players that excite the senses in this 2013 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon. A wine that is both elegant and complex, pair this beauty with braised short ribs. Retail Price: $50.00 Wine Club: $37.50 Reorder Price: $35.00 Appellation: Sonoma County Composition: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot Aging: 21 months in French oak, 40% new Alcohol: 13.6% 0.56 g/100ml ph: 3.85
BACON BRUSSEL SPROUTS Ingredients 4 slices bacon, chopped 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 shallot, chopped 1 c chicken broth 1½ pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed, small sprouts left whole, larger sprouts halved Salt and pepper, to your taste Brown bacon in a large skillet over medium high heat, remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Add extra-virgin olive oil to the pan. Add shallots to the pan and sauté 1 to 2 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and coat in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook Brussels sprouts 2 to 3 minutes to begin to soften, then add broth. Bring broth to a bubble, cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook 10 minutes, until tender. Transfer sprouts to a serving dish and top with cooked bacon bits. FEATURED WINES Sonoma Club 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2013 Roussanne, Santa Ynez Valley Sonoma Reds Only Club 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County Proprietor s Club 2013 Roussanne, Santa Ynez Valley Proprietor s Reds Only Club 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Old Vine, Sonoma County REORDER OFFER 30% off retail 2013 Roussanne, Santa Ynez Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Old Vine, Sonoma County Offer expires January 6, 2016. To order, please contact the Wine Club at 866.485.6622, or wineclub@sebastiani.com. Complimentary ground shipping on 12 bottles or more. Orders can be a full or mixed case and offer applies to any of the above wines.
389 fourth street east, sonoma, ca 95476 wineclub@sebastiani.com 707.933.3230 www.sebastiani.com CT PERMIT #LSL.0001291 WA PERMIT #357042 ITEM #SV1215