Aftermath Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine is full-bodied with a dark garnet color.  The nose is redolent with black cherry and dark plums, with a hint of violets.  On the palate there is cassis, dark chocolate shavings, black licorice and tobacco.  The glycerin level is high, producing a long lingering finish.  Tannins are firm, but not harsh, so while the wine is delicious now it should cellar well for at least a decade.  The blend is 96.3% cabernet sauvignon and 3.7% petit verdot.

Opaque violet color with striking aromas of black cherry, cassis and cacao.  Structured and opulent, the palate displays ripe blackberry, English breakfast tea and chocolate covered expresso beans.  Soft tannins, prominent towards the front, balanced by a touch of licorice and a lingering acidity, signifying the potential for graceful aging.

The 2016 Aftermath Cabernet Sauvignon is darkly colored and extremely flavorful.  The nose is redolent with ripe dark fruit, such as cassis and blackberry, and there are hints of sage, anise and fir.  The wine is medium to full bodied with bright acidity to balance the fruit and noticeable minerality on the mid-palate. The fruit lingers in a long finish with a hint of slate/graphite (reminiscent of what is referred to as "Rutherford dust").

The 2015 Aftermath Cabernet Sauvignon is dark garnet in the glass.  The nose opens with complex aromatics of blackberry, coffee, cedar and cloves, with a hint of graphite and crème caramel.  The palate is soft and pleasing with ripe dark berries and stone fruits.  Consistent with previous vintages, the finish is very long and lingering, with flavors of plum and mocha.  The wine is medium to full bodied.

As might be expected in a hot, dry year, the 2014 Aftermath Cabernet Sauvignon displays ripe fruit, with aromas of black cherry, plum and a hint of raspberry. On the mouth there is a hint of chocolate in addition to the fruit. Consistent with previous vintages, the finish is very long and lingering. The wine is medium to full bodied. The grapes were vinified in French oak for 17 months, with 50% being new. The blend which is in the bottles represents the best 40% of the barrel samples, and consists of 65% new French oak.

The 2013 Aftermath Cabernet Sauvignon offers savory aromas of herbs de Provence and thyme intermingled with fresh dark fruits of blackberry and cassis. The wine is ripe and open, with hints of oak and cedar carrying through to layers of dark fruit and a touch of black olive on the rich, layered palate. Medium to full in body, with supple tannins, it deftly balances fruit and structure to express the property's rocky hillside terroir.

The 2011 Aftermath Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% estate grown grapes. Only cabernet was used in the 2011 vintage. The 2011 season started off with considerable rain and wind, resulting in some shatter early in the season. The result was an extremely low yield, but the grapes that remained possessed very concentrated flavors.

The grapes were aged primarily in new French oak for twenty-two months from six separate barrel makers (70% of the vintage), while 30% were aged in neutral barrels. The blend which is in the bottles represents the best 25% of the barrel samples.

The wine has a classic cabernet nose of dark fruit. On the palate, in addition to cassis, there is leather, chocolate and a hint of licorice. The acid level is higher than most California cabernets, resulting in excellent balance. The wine has an extremely long finish. The cooler growing season resulted in thicker than normal skins, so that the wine has tannins that will permit the wine to cellar for years.