Wilson Winery
2007 Sonoma County Vineman Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
California: Sonoma County
Mission Briefing
The Anomaly
Today’s Wilson Winery 2007 Sonoma County Vineman Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic wine. It started out, though, as a real head scratcher. You see, the wine was very shy at first. It seemed muted and somewhat subdued. As we swirled the wine, it really sprang to life. This was a great surprise and so we encourage you to have this same experience. Try the wine right out of the bottle, but decant or swirl vigorously to see how the wine transforms.
We were lucky to have one of our favorite winemakers, [REDACTED], on our panel when we tried the wine. His insights were very valuable. His most important declaration about the wine was that it would be well described as a declassified Bordeaux. “It has that sort of initial flavor profile and appeal,” he said.
We really enjoy Diane Wilson’s wines, and this one was a thrill for us to taste. Your enjoyment of this wine will increase exponentially with some extended decanting or hearty swirling. While the wine does not possess a great deal of extracted fruit, it is a tasty, elegant and somewhat serious treat.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Slightly translucent crimson through and through, with just a touch of lighter red at its edge. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Leads with subtle dark fruit notes of stewed black currant and plum. These are quickly followed by aromas of fresh forest floor, freshly spread straw, espresso bean, black pepper, and hibiscus herbal tea. As the wine breathes, it unveils added fresh fruit aromas. |
| Taste: | Elegant and Bordeaux-esque on the palate, this is a wonderful terroir-driven Cabernet. The stewed dark fruit sits atop a foundation of sweet tobacco, blackberry bramble, aged mahogany cigar box, white pepper, clove, and a subtle note of fresh rosemary. |
| Finish: | After decanting, this wine opens up to present a refined and elegant quality, with the dark fruit, earth, and spice notes each playing off each other beautifully. A wonderfully long finish, with well-structured tannins. |
| Pairing: | Pan seared ribeye steak, with a rosemary butter reduction, served with roasted root vegetables. |
What the Winery Says
- Winemaker
- Diane Wilson
- Winemaker Accolades
- Woman Winemaker of the Year - 2008, Unprecedented back-to-back Sonoma County Harvest Fair Sweepstakes Winner - 2005 & 2006
- Appellation
- Sonoma County, California
- Vineyard
- Wilson Family Estate
- Cooperage
- 36 months in French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%