2009 Lancaster Estate Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Phil Freese joined the Lancaster team in 2009, consulting on viticulture at this 53-acre vineyard in southeastern hills of Alexander Valley. Jesse Katz was recruited by consulting winemaker David Ramey in 2010. They worked together on this polished, savory blend of five Bordeaux varieties (cabernets sauvignon and franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot). The fruit is explosive, a blast of cherry and blueberry, tamped down by the hillside tannins so it tastes ripe but not over the top. The fruit richness lasts, spiced by the tannins into an elegant length. Delicious to decant now and well suited to aging.