“Sonoma County has a history of producing cabernet sauvignon for much longer than pinot noir,” 

Matthew Kaner, Sommelier

What’s the first California wine appellation that comes to mind when you think of Cabernet Sauvignon? I’d bet dollars to donuts it’s the Napa Valley!

And rightfully so! It’s diverse soils, microclimates, and elevations make Napa Valley is home to some of the world’s best tasting and most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon. Of course, with that cachet comes some mind-blowing prices!

What about Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon?

Sonoma is more renown for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thanks to its many “cool-climate” AVAs such as the Russian River Valley, Carneros, and West Sonoma. But, like Napa, it is also has many diverse soils, microclimates and elevations.

In fact “Sonoma County has a history of producing cabernet sauvignon for much longer than pinot noir” explains Sommelier Matthew Kaner.

A key differentiator of Sonoma Cab compared to Napa Cab is that Sonoma is generally cooler thanks to the moderating influences of the Pacific Ocean. A cooler climate results in fresher wines with more natural acidity. Mountain and hillside fruit is also capable of yielding great Cabernet because of higher temperature swings between day and night slows ripening. Mountain fruit also tends to have thicker skins, and that is where most of the flavor is wine comes from. And just like Napa, Sonoma has hillside and mountain vineyards.

In recent years found quite a few Sonoma Cabs sourced from either Sonoma Mountain or Moon Mountain AVAs to be every bit as compelling and delicious as most Napa Cabs, but without (at least relative to Napa) the mind blowing prices.

Disclosure: Wine provided as a media sample. No other compensation was involved. All opinions are mine.

2019 Sosie Cabernet Sauvignon Charlie Smith Vineyard

Fruit for this wine is sourced from mountain-top certified organically-farmed Charlie Smith Vineyard. Sitting high above the Sonoma Valley floor at 1,600 feet elevation in the Moon Mountain District. The vineyard stretches across the Mayacamas Mountain range that separates Napa and Sonoma Valleys, which are defined by the most jaw-droppingly beautiful views anywhere in wine country.

Tasting Note: Opaque garnet color with subtle black and purple fruit, cedar, black currant leaf, milk chocolate and vanilla aromas. On the palate it’s medium bodied with bright acidity and firm, well integrated tannins. Initial flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry, and plum give way to enticing blueberry notes accented with chocolate, vanilla and pepper. Long finish. 10 barrels produced|14.9% abv|SRP – $75|91pts

Sosie Wines

Established in 2017, Sosie Wines is a relatively newcomer to the Sonoma County wine scene. Owners Scott MacFiggen, and his wife Regina Bustamante traveled to France many times over the years and became enamored with “French Soul” – its wine, cuisine and culture. Inspired by their love of French Soul, they proclaimed their label and name So much so that they proclaimed their label and their name, Sosie(pronounced so-zee),  which is french for “twin” or “spitting image.”

Of course, their appreciation of French wine and culture goes beyond marketing. It manifest itself in their minimal intervention winemaking aesthetic.

“We prefer restraint over ripeness, precision over power, finesse over flamboyance. These are the hallmarks of great wines. Of French wines. The kind found in the Rhone, the Loire, Burgundy and Bordeaux. We craft our wines in their manner. Its influence lives in the way our vineyards are farmed and in the way we treat the fruit in the cellar.” explains their website.

They source fruit from farms across Sonoma and Napa which implement the highest standards. They are typically among the first to pick from the vineyard because they seek the perfect balance of acidity and ripeness. Their wines are foot-tread, and fermented on ambient (a.k.a. “native”) yeast present on the grapes. They also employ some whole cluster fermentation and believe in the art of blending, be that barrels or grape varieties.

Sources and resources:

• Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon Differentiated By Climate And Diversity, Winemakers Claim.
• https://www.sonomacounty.com › articles 
• https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/bryce-wiatrak/posts/cabernet-in-sonoma

Thanks for the opportunity to sample this wine Calhoun & Company!