Stuhlmuller Vineyards, located in southern Alexander Valley, converges with two highly regarded Sonoma County appellations, Chalk Hill and Russian River Valley. On its eastern edge, the 150 acre vineyard borders the Russian River. Situated in a location that is part river bench-lands and part hillside, the vineyard benefits from its alluvial gravel soils and the rockier soils of the hillside sections.

The fruit for this Cabernet emphasizes three clones, from seven separate blocks, with vines from 15 to 35 years old. From the river bench-land, we use our clone 337 for its fruit-forward black cherry flavors. Hillside clone 7 fruit adds floral layers and classic Cabernet cassis and cherry elements. Our oldest plantings, a field selection from the Belle Terre Vineyard, provide tannic concentration and blue fruit notes.

In a year best described as a “cold start to a warm, fast finish,” the harvest was early, with grape yields light to average due to a variety of water conservation efforts. Nonetheless, the 2021 crop will be viewed as an excellent vintage. Our vines produced pristine grapes, with excellent natural acidity, wonderful balance, and pure varietal flavors. We began harvesting our Cabernet Sauvignon on September 21st and were finished by September 30th with brix ranging from 24.3˚ to 25.7˚.

Our Cabernet harvest resulted in several individual native fermentations, without any commercial yeast being added, in a mix of open-top and closed-top tanks. In the closed-top tanks, the must was pumped-over, which added to palate texture; while the open-top tanks had a punch-down regimen, which retained fruit intensity. The wine was racked to 50% new French oak and underwent spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Each lot was aged separately for 18 months before blending, barrel by barrel, into tank just prior to bottling.

The 2021 vintage presented us with a wonderfully structured and refined Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with splendid aromas of ripe plum, licorice, tobacco, currant, and blackberry pie. The palate offers a plush texture, seamlessly integrated oak and dusty tannins that add definition to the rich flavors of dark berries and crème de cassis, as well as layers of sweet oak and spice. Ample natural acidity provides length and freshness on the finish.