We have another Super QPR delight from our good friends at Bonneau Wines. Today only - and only while it lasts - we have a small allocation of their delectably delicious 2013 Moon Mountain District Ty Caton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This dark and inky wine was the sweetheart of this week’s tasting panel.

This wine is an inky black, stopping all light attempting to pass through its dense core. This Cab thoroughly intrigues with pleasant aromas of gingerbread, carrot cake, hibiscus, black currant, and subtle sandalwood. The black plum and black cherry fruit mix delectably with tasty spice palate of black pepper, allspice, and cardamom. Drinks like a high-end mountain-grown Sonoma Cab - Refined tannin, extracted and perfectly ripe fruit flavors which are bolder than valley floor Cabernet. Perfect for complex California cuisine such as chicken cacciatore.

We asked winery owner and winemaker, John Bambury is there was a specific experience in his life that inspired his love of wine. He replied by saying, “I’ve always been interested in cooking & making recipes better. I took that philosophy to my winemaking endeavors. I’m meticulous about growing grapes, optimizing harvest & sorting fruit for superior quality. The rest of the program involves doting over the soak, fermentation & aging process to make sure the best qualities of the fruit is emphasized.”

His care and attention to the process shine through in today’s delicious Cabernet.

Officially recognized in 1981, the Moon Mountain AVA (American Viticultural Area) is a sub-appellation of the broader Sonoma Valley AVA in Sonoma County California. With 1500 acres under vine, the area ranges from 400 feet in elevation to over 200 feet. Thin, volcanic soils, which impart a certain terroir rest on ancient lava flows. Winds from both the San Pablo Bay to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west provide the grapes with evening cooling. These all add up to wines of rich, distinctive character. Moon Mountain has been a source of cherished wine grapes since the 1860s. Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel reign supreme in this area, which is crowned by Louis M. Martini’s famed Monte Rosso vineyard.

Enjoy!