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Mission Codename Dunker
Baby Jordan?
No, not the NBA star. Although this will totally dunk on many Cabs 2-3x the price.
We’re talking about that hallmark winery.
You have a chance to score a dead-serious Cabernet with accolades, made by the same lady who spent 20 years at Jordan Winery, working alongside Rob Davis and the legendary André Tchelistcheff.
The best part? Jordan Cab, one of the World’s Most Wanted, averages at $65 retail. This one? WAY less.
Estate 1856 is owned by Brian and Janice Schmidt. Brian is the son of a fourth-generation farmer, and this land has been tended by his family since - you guessed it, 1856. His wife, Janice, is a veritable wizard of enology. She’s the one who spent 20 years at Jordan, helping them craft one of the most famous Sonoma Cabernets in existence, with Wine Enthusiast secondhandedly praising Janice’s dedication, “more than 40 years after its founding, Jordan continues to shape the American wine landscape.”
And this stuff? It stacks up, with a balance of Old World restraint and New World power. Black cherry, black currant, pencil lead, spicy wood, and savory elements define the well-poised nose. The palate echoes those, with blueberries and plum compote additions, along with more minerals, and spice. Builds to a strong, suspended finale, of ultrafine tannins echoing hand in hand with ripe black and purple fruits.
Fun fact: Janice Schmidt is not only a “Winemaker to Know” (Sonoma Magazine) but she also is an established academic who collaborated with Dr. Anne Noble at UC Davis in designing the famous Wine Aroma Wheel!
Back to the wine, ONLY 4 barrels made. And we scooped up what we could but these days the thirst for Cabernet value is real and the inventory dries up REAL quick.
93+ Points – Ken’s Wine Guide
“This midnight purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Estate 1856 opens with a mild black olive and black cherry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and super smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty black currant and graphite blend with notes of gentle oak and blackberry. The finish is rather dry, and its tannins build up and linger for an extended time frame. I would pair this impressive Cab with a well-marbled ribeye steak.”*
95 Points, Gold – Women’s International Wine Competition
92 Points, Gold – North Coast Wine Challenge
Tasting Profile
Tasting Profile
| Look | Opaque to the core with a deep ruby-purple radiating rim that is neither narrow nor wide |
|---|---|
| Smell | Black cherry, black currant, pencil lead, spicy wood, and savory elements define the well-poised nose |
| Taste | The palate echoes those, with blueberries and plum compote additions, along with more minerals, and spice |
| Finish | Builds to a strong, suspended finale, of ultrafine tannins echoing hand in hand with ripe black and purple fruits |
| Pairing | With a balance of Old World restraint and New World power, it’s hard to think of a better match than Ken’s suggestion: a well-marbled ribeye steak |
What the Winery Says
2016 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Janice Schmidt
- Varietals
- 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
- Vintage
- 2016
- Appellation
- Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
- Vineyard
- Tzabaco Rancho Vineyards
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Total acidity
- 6.0 g/L
- pH
- 3.83
- Aging
- 22 months
- Barrels
- 40% new French oak
- Production
- 4 barrels
About the Winery
Estate 1856 Wines
