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What We Say 2006 Three Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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Mission Codename: Learning our Three V’s
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Secure a exceptional budget-minded Cabernet for our Operatives
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Pedroncelli Winery & Vineyards
Wine Subject: 2006 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley
Winemaker: John Pedroncelli
Backgrounder:
Today’s Cabernet Sauvignon comes to us from one of Sonoma County’s most experienced winemaking families. Grown in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, today’s wine is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report, below, for the the complete skinny on today’s wine
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Deep garnet with great concentration of color to the edges of the glass, darkening through its darker heart. When swirled, slow clusters of medium thick legs glide down the side of the glass
Smell – A bold and sophisticated nose with aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, smoky strawberry and red plum lead the way. These sit atop rich and earthy notes of oak and soft spice with a hint of dry fall leaves
Feel – This medium-bodied wine is rich and brightly supple on the palate. At mid palate, fine-grained but firm tannins take hold as a tangy acidity and touch of spice coat the mouth and make their way slowly to the edges of the palate
Taste – Brightly layered and complex, with classic Cabernet flavors of black fruit including black cherry, dark plum and blackberry. These are supported by a soft oaky framework, and a touch of soft spice and a subtle hint of black pepper
Finish – This wine finishes bright, flavorful and long with lingering bright and dark fruit, oak, spice, soft pepper. Flavors linger for a long time, making the mouth water and reminding you to take another long sip
Conclusion – For a ‘budget’ Cabernet Sauvignon, this delicious wine delivers a drinking experience well above its price class. I am really impressed! With deep aromatics, brightly delicious flavors, a superb feel and remarkable complexity, this is a wine that I expected to be little – but ended up being real and big. Stock up on this great wine, a perfect food companion that is a great go-to wine or daily-drinker. Way to go Jim Pedroncelli!
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: John Pedroncelli
DOB: 5/2/25
POB: Dunsmuir CA
Wine Education: SRJC and summer short courses at UC Davis
California wine job brief: Pedroncelli Winery from 1946-present; winemaker in 1949
Winemaking Philosophy: To produce the best wine possible to reflect the variety and appellation it is grown in.
Career highlight: Traveled/visited most of the winemaking countries of the world.
Quote: “World class wines are made in the vineyard.”
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Greetings, Jim. We are thrilled to be showing your Three Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
JOHN: My pleasure to work with you, once again, Agent Red. We enjoy our Wine Spies missions!
RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
JOHN: Growing up in a winemaking family
RED: And where did you learn the most about winemaking?
JOHN: In the classroom, from peers, and from the ground up—beginning in the vineyard.
RED: What is your winemaking style or philosophy?
JOHN: To produce world-class consumer affordable wine to enjoy on a daily basis
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
JOHN: Giovanni Pedroncelli, my father
RED: How long have you been making wine?
JOHN: Since 1949
RED: Who do you make wine for?
JOHN: Knowledgeable wine drinkers
RED: Tell me, what makes the Dry Creek Valley, where Pedroncelli Winery sits, so special?
JOHN: Weather, soil and the individual grape growers
RED: What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone that is considering a career as a winemaker?
JOHN: Attend a good Agricultural college plus work experience in the vineyard and winery
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
JOHN: I consult with our winemaking team that includes our assistant winemaker, Montse Reece, cellarmaster Polo Cano, and vineyard manager Lance Blakeley.
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today
JOHN: Good balance of acid and tannin, good flavor and long lingering finish. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a vineyard in Alexander Valley that was established in the 1970s, from a family who has farmed the property since the late 1800s.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
JOHN: Vennison stew or for mainstream meals, I like New York Strip steak grilled
RED: Please share one thing about yourself that few people know
JOHN: Tennis was a passion of mine for many years.
RED: What is your favorite ‘everyday’ or table wine?
JOHN: Zinfandel
RED: How would you recommend that people approach your wines, or wine in general?
JOHN: With an open mind and a view that wine really has no boundaries – there are so many choices when it comes to wine – if you don’t try it, you’ll never gain experience.
RED: If you could choose any one wine to drink (regardless of price or availability), what would it be?
JOHN: I’d like to taste our first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon from 1966
RED: What is good piece of wisdom that you can share with us today?
JOHN: I have seen quite a bit of our little corner in Dry Creek Valley change, for the better. I’ve learned you need to ride the waves of the industry, the ups and downs, in order to succeed.
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and about your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
JOHN: Thanks, Red!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Pedroncelli Winery & Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Pedroncelli Winery & Vineyards
About This Wine:
Rich aromas of ripe raspberry and cherry highlight this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is highlighted by bright acidity, in just the right amount to showcase the fruit. Plum, toasted oak notes and warm clove spice combine to round out the flavors. Framed by firm tannins and a lasting finish, our Three Vineyards Cabernet is ready to enjoy upon release or cellar up to five more years.
Vineyard Sources: Pedroncelli estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc provided the fruit for this wine. These varietals develop exceptional character on the vineyards sites situated on the Dry Creek Valley bench. Dry Creek Valley receives the right amount of sun and cooling fog which develops optimal flavors in the grapes. Careful vineyard management during the growing season defines our style even more.
Winemaking: After four decades producing Cabernet Sauvignon in Dry Creek Valley, John Pedroncelli knows how to get the best from this noble grape. The grapes were harvested the first two weeks of October. The fruit was crushed into temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. The frequent pumping of juice over the skins (known as the ‘cap’) during fermentation gives the young wine a substantial increase of flavor and color. Our Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in small American oak barrels for twelve months in order to develop smoothness and complexity. A blend of 30% new French oak in the barrel aging program is used to bring a subtle backbone of toasty oak. With the addition of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, John is able to fine-tune this wine for optimum richness, flavor, and balance.
About The Winery:
Since 1927, when John Pedroncelli, Sr. purchased vineyard and a small winery in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, two elements remain unchanged: the exceptional place the Pedroncelli family farms vineyards, and the family’s dedication to making fine wines.
- From selling grapes to home winemakers during prohibition in order to keep the vineyards going,
- to growing a small base of business during the 1930s and 1940s,
- to the second generation joining their father: son John becoming winemaker in 1948 followed by Jim in 1955 as sales director,
- to 1963 when the winery was officially purchased by John and Jim from their father,
- to growing the line of wines in the 1960s with vineyard expansion and diversification,
- to the boom time of the 1970s and 1980s along with many changes and additions to our sales base including national sales and export,
- the third generation coming on board and vineyard replanting in the 1990s
- to the 21st century where the fourth generation is coming up the ranks…
- and it is still a family owned business.
It all adds up to tradition, heritage and a family of wines you can enjoy with confidence.
Technical Analysis:
Composition: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot
Harvest: October 2006
Acidity: .675g/100ml
Alcohol: 13.8%
pH: 3.53
