Dionysus Winery
2008 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
California: Sonoma Valley
Mission Briefing
The Complete Package Redux
Today’s Dionysus Winery 2008 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a new entry from an Operative-favorite winery. Dionysus wowed us before with their Pinot, and they did it again with today’s fantastic Cabernet.
Incredibly elegant, this wine is super concentrated, with layer upon layer of complex flavors. Bright aromas of sweet plum and baking spices greet you on the nose with just a teaser of the fantastic flavors to come. And those flavors! A lush dark berry compote mingles with cedar wood and a touch of black peppercorn to present an example of just how good the varietal can be.
After decanting, this wine drinks beautifully now. We also feel it has fantastic aging potential, so be sure to stock up on this 91 Point gem!
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Deep crimson through and through, with a hint of a lighter red along the edge of the glass. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Lovely notes of bright red fruit leap from the glass, with bing cherry, sweet plum, and blackberry compote framed by cassis, dried red currant, caramel, dark baking spice, and a touch of black peppercorn. |
| Taste: | The palate is very reminiscent of the nose, with added hints of freshly tilled earth, clove, black currant, and a touch of a smoky charcoal summer barbecue. |
| Finish: | Best decanted, this wine exhibits velvety tannins and fantastic structure, with the bright fruit flavors lingering throughout the finish. |
| Pairing: | Oven roasted duck breast, served with a cherry balsamic reduction. |
What the Winery Says
Our 2008 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend from Los Chamizal vineyard and Emery vineyard. The blend brings together the more delicate structure, fullness and strong Cabernet from Sonoma Valley.
- Winemaker
- Cecilia Valdivia-Peritore
- Accolades
- 91 Points - Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis
- Appellation
- Sonoma Valley, California
- Vineyards
- Los Chamizal and Emery Vineyards
- Cooperage
- 19 months in French and American oak
- ABV
- 14.9%
About the Winery
Born over a Christmas dinner discussion, Winemaker/ Oenologist Cecilia Valdivia and Businessman Mark Adams dreamed of producing a high quality wine that would become a legacy for their children. They adopted the name Dionysus, better known as the Greek God of Wine. As one of the 12 Olympians, Dionysus is not only a winemaker but the patron deity of agriculture and theatre. There could not be a better name to represent the wine that they craft.
Dionysus Winery is a boutique winery in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. We specialize in small lots of handmade wines. For the time being, we are limiting our varietals to a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and a Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We have a simple philosophy; wine making is an art and, rather than mass producing above average wines; we would rather strive for perfection.
Winemaker Cecilia Valdivia
Cecilia, known to her friends and family as Ceci, is one of the hardest working and best educated winemakers in the industry. The intensity of the harvest only improves on what most would already consider an “A” game. Her 2008 Dionysus Cabernet Sauvignon - Sonoma Valley won a silver medal in the 2011 Grand Harvest Award sponsored by Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine.
Ceci was born in Mendoza-Argentina; the largest wine making area in Latin America. Even as a child, Ceci knew that she wanted to be a winemaker. After years of concentrated study at the University of Mendoza, Ceci obtained her Masters degree in Agricultural Engineering and Oenology. After college, she apprenticed at Trapiche; a winery in Mendoza famous for its Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. She gained further experience learning the intricate details of harvest at both Chandon and Pona Paula, a Chilean Winery in Mendoza.
After obtaining 3 years of experience in Argentina, 2003 brought Ceci to Sonoma County. Her desire was to increase her harvest experience by learning the processes from another famous wine region. Her first American harvest was spent with St. Francis winery as an intern. After seeing what she had to offer, she was hired as a production assistant.
Soon after, Ceci took a job with Pellegrini Winery as an oenologist. She worked there from 2006 to 2008. In August 2008, Ceci received a job offer with Deerfield Ranch winery as the associate winemaker. The rest is history. Ceci is not only a winemaker but an artisan of the finely crafted wines that are Dionysus.