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 Sonoma County Businessman Mark Adams dreamed of producing a high quality wine that would become a legacy for our children. We 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. We could not think of a better name to represent the wine that we craft.
Cecilia is one of the hardest working and best educated winemakers in the industry. She is grace under pressure and a traffic cop all rolled into one. The intensity of the harvest only improves on what most would already consider an “A” game. While she is about as petite as winemakers come, she might as well be King Kong if you’re not keeping up. Cecilia and I have our individual strengths and don’t get in each other’s way. I am learning about winemaking as a necessity, but she has no desire to learn anything about the business aspect. The only thing she cares more about than crafting the perfect wine is her family. What more could I ask in a partner.