2003 Behrens Family Cabernet Sauvignon Herrick-Moulds Vineyard

The surprisingly young 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Herrick Moulds Vineyard (14.4% alcohol) was bottled unfined and unfiltered (as are all the Behrens Family wines). Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it does not appear to be as complex as the Cemetery, but is a classic Cabernet Sauvignon exhibiting plenty of Asian plum sauce, creme de cassis and sweet jammy cherries in a spicy, medium to full-bodied, rich style. It is another example from this vintage that is proving to have more staying power and potential than I initially believed. I have seen rumors circulating on the blogs alleging a problem with the Behrens-Hitchcock synthetic closures in the winery’s early days, but all of these wines were finished with real cork. This has always been one of my favorite wineries to visit, a great family operation of young to middle-aged wine and food lovers trying to do the best they can, eschewing any arrogance given their serious talent. In short, consumers benefit from high level amateur winemaking and intense viticultural knowledge. It is hard to know in what order to taste these wines, but here goes. Tel. (707) 963-1774