2012SheldonCabernet2012 Sheldon, Cabernet Sauvignon “D’ Alliard Vineyard” Sonoma Valley.
The latest from Sheldon Wines is a glorious single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the western most side of the Sonoma Valley, from a tiny old vine plot at the D’ Alliard Vineyard, this is a fantastic and graceful young Cabernet with awesome potential as it is still a baby at this point, it reminds me of a Ridge Cab, or an old school Napa wine with it’s wonderfully low alcohol, it’s only 12.3%, and it’s refined pure varietal character, this is an elegant wine with loads of personality. Dylan and Tobe Sheldon crafted this wine with the use of any new wood and minimal racking or handling and bottled this wine unfiltered, this handcrafted artisan Cabernet is dark and classic without any overdoing it, it is what good honest Cabernet should be, nothing less and nothing more. The nose has dark cherries, minty herbs, creme de cassis and a touch of pencil lead, leading to a medium/full palate of blackberry, plum, raspberry and a subtle kirsch note along with fine tobacco leaf, black olive, wild herbs, cedar and licorice notes. This wine is still firm with ripe tannins and good acidity, giving it balance and structure, but is tasty already with a fresh juicy nature. It should fill out nicely in the bottle over the coming 3 to 5 years, drink from 2016 to 2021, though I no doubt will pop my own bottles a bit sooner, bravo.
($42 Est.) 93-94 Points, grapelive

 

 

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