Obsidian Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Obsidian Ridge Vineyard is planted at 2,640′ atop the Mayacamas range north of the Napa Valley. This is one of the newest American Viticultural Areas, named Red Hills Lake County for the distinctive volcanic soils that define this remarkable mountain appellation.
- The vineyard′s red soils are shot through with obsidian rock — this steep, sloping terroir of obsidian gravel is all that a winemaker could hope for. The unrestricted drainage and meager soil fertility produce wines with great tannic structure.
Varietal Composition: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Elaboration: A blend of eight blocks from Obsidian Ridge Vineyard, the lush flavor and sweetness of this wine comes from fruit harvested on the steepest slopes of their estate vineyard, rising from 2,300 to 2,640 feet above sea level. The spicy aroma and structure is derived from fruit picked later in the season in the lower blocks of the vineyard. Young wines are aged exclusively in Tokaj oak by Kádár Hungary, 16 Months in 45% New, Medium Toast Plus and Heavy Toast Barrels.
Tasting Notes: Aromatic riot of blackberry jam, a touch of herb, spice, and coffee. The wine is full-bodied, expanding mid-palate with a dense core of black fruit, black cherries, and cacao beans; the finish lingers with a perfume of dried raspberries and rose water. The distinctive tannic structure of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot hints at the aging potential of this wine.
PRESS
2016 – 91 Wine Advocate | 94 Wine Enthusiast
2017 – 93 Wine Enthusiast “Cellar Selection”
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
In the beginning, there were just three: Michael Terrien, Peter Molnar, and Arpad Molnar. From the outset they have owned and farmed their own vineyards, coopered their own barrels, and vinified their own wines. In 2002, they made their first 98 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Encouraged by their heritage wine project, Poseidon Vineyard, they are individuals that have always been compelled to discover something new.
Winemaker, Alex Beloz has crafted wines here for more than a decade. More artist than his engineering degree suggests, Alex has intimate and longstanding knowledge of their vineyards and of their coopering. He raises to a high art the skill of matching oak to wine.
Obsidian Ridge has a long history of coopering. They exclusively use barrels made from Tokaj oak by Kádár Hungary, the cooperage that they have owned for nearly three decades. Located in Kádárok Völgye (Valley of the Coopers), this region of the Tokaj appellation has a written history of over 1,000 years of coopering. The remote forests of Tokaj are steep, rocky and cold; one of only a handful in the world to exclusively grow Quercus petraea: the densest and tightest grained oak in all of Europe. Highly sought after, for its enticing aromas and subtle influence, Quercus petraea enhances the aromatics of our wine and maintains the vibrancy of our mountain fruit. The result is a fresher, livelier Cabernet Sauvignon.
In their estate vineyards, they follow the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices and are Fish Friendly Farming certified. The Tokaj forests where their barrels are coopered have been sustainably managed since 1769 by decree of the Empress Maria Teresa of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, requiring selective logging and systematic replanting. In their solar powered winery, they follow traditional and natural winemaking practices.
Above all else, they are family and employee owned—ensuring consistency, stability and long-term generational sustainability of their sources and practices