Stonestreet Monument Ridge 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Ranging in elevation from 400ft to 2400ft, Stonestreet Estate Vineyards stands as the one largest and most extensive mountain vineyards in the world. Towering high above the Alexander Valley in the Mayacamas Mountain Range, Stonestreet Estate defies all previous conceptions of winegrowing. Single vineyard blocks are aligned in every imaginable spot on the compass, with peaks, valleys and ridges creating a broad spectrum of varied facings and elevations. Winegrowers throughout history have looked to high elevation sites with impoverished, rocky soils to produce richly concentrated wines of character. Mountain vineyards are notoriously difficult to farm, and Stonestreet Estate is no exception. The Estate’s myriad of vine spacing, and broad array of elevation and mesoclimate require a vine-by-vine approach to winegrowing.
Opening a bottle, which I let decant, of this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine, I noticed a very dark red color with complex aromas of black fruit, spices and floral notes. The flavors kept jumping out of the glass the longer we waited as decanting enhanced the experience. Flavors of this full bodied wine showed fresh black cherries, ripe plums and a touch of sweet raspberries and earthy herbs. The wine finished with cacao, espresso and some minerality with well integrated oak and forward smooth tannins, a little drying, but lingers nicely. Grab a Porterhouse!
Cheers!