- About This Wine
- Ratings & Reviews
- Tasting Notes
About This Wine
Ratings & Reviews
Tasting Notes
ABOUT THIS WINE
REVIEWS
WINEMAKER NOTES
The 2023 Caterwaul Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon captures the essence of a remarkable vintage, delivering precision, power, and polish in a wine that overdelivers at every level. Born from a celebrated partnership between vineyard expert Matt Hardin and renowned winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, this Cabernet reflects both meticulous farming and masterful craftsmanship, resulting in a bottle that stands confidently among Sonoma County’s most compelling modern expressions.
Sourced from carefully farmed vineyards shaped by cool Sonoma nights and balanced growing conditions, the wine immediately announces itself with lifted aromatics of black cherry and redcurrant, underscored by subtle earth tones that speak to the region’s proximity to Mount St. Helena. The 2023 growing season proved nearly ideal, defined by generous winter rains, a mild summer, and perfectly timed harvest conditions that allowed fruit to achieve exceptional balance and seamless ripeness. The result is a Cabernet Sauvignon that feels harmonious from the first swirl to the final lingering note.
On the palate, the wine unfolds with impressive depth and textural refinement. Layers of melted baking chocolate and raspberry compote glide effortlessly across the mouth, supported by chewy yet polished tannins that provide both structure and approachability. Fresh sage and subtle herbal nuances add dimension, preventing the wine’s generous fruit profile from ever feeling heavy. A delicate thread of eucalyptus emerges toward the finish, lending brightness and lift while French oak aging frames the wine with gentle sweetness and refined spice.
Aged for eighteen months in French oak barrels, half of which were new, the wine achieves a balance between richness and elegance rarely found at this level. The oak integration enhances complexity without overshadowing the purity of fruit, allowing Sonoma County’s distinctive character to remain front and center. At 14.9 percent alcohol, the wine carries impressive concentration yet maintains freshness and energy, making it equally compelling upon release or after several years of cellaring.
What distinguishes Caterwaul is its philosophy of accessibility paired with pedigree. This Cabernet offers the layered complexity and precision associated with elite California winemaking while remaining inviting to a broad range of wine lovers. It is expressive without excess, powerful without heaviness, and refined without losing personality.
For collectors seeking a high-quality Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon with immediate appeal and aging potential, the 2023 Caterwaul delivers exceptional value and authenticity. Its seamless structure, vibrant fruit, and polished finish make it a quintessential example of a legendary vintage translated through expert hands, capturing both place and moment in a single, memorable glass.
Alcohol: 14.9%
Sourced from carefully farmed vineyards shaped by cool Sonoma nights and balanced growing conditions, the wine immediately announces itself with lifted aromatics of black cherry and redcurrant, underscored by subtle earth tones that speak to the region’s proximity to Mount St. Helena. The 2023 growing season proved nearly ideal, defined by generous winter rains, a mild summer, and perfectly timed harvest conditions that allowed fruit to achieve exceptional balance and seamless ripeness. The result is a Cabernet Sauvignon that feels harmonious from the first swirl to the final lingering note.
On the palate, the wine unfolds with impressive depth and textural refinement. Layers of melted baking chocolate and raspberry compote glide effortlessly across the mouth, supported by chewy yet polished tannins that provide both structure and approachability. Fresh sage and subtle herbal nuances add dimension, preventing the wine’s generous fruit profile from ever feeling heavy. A delicate thread of eucalyptus emerges toward the finish, lending brightness and lift while French oak aging frames the wine with gentle sweetness and refined spice.
Aged for eighteen months in French oak barrels, half of which were new, the wine achieves a balance between richness and elegance rarely found at this level. The oak integration enhances complexity without overshadowing the purity of fruit, allowing Sonoma County’s distinctive character to remain front and center. At 14.9 percent alcohol, the wine carries impressive concentration yet maintains freshness and energy, making it equally compelling upon release or after several years of cellaring.
What distinguishes Caterwaul is its philosophy of accessibility paired with pedigree. This Cabernet offers the layered complexity and precision associated with elite California winemaking while remaining inviting to a broad range of wine lovers. It is expressive without excess, powerful without heaviness, and refined without losing personality.
For collectors seeking a high-quality Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon with immediate appeal and aging potential, the 2023 Caterwaul delivers exceptional value and authenticity. Its seamless structure, vibrant fruit, and polished finish make it a quintessential example of a legendary vintage translated through expert hands, capturing both place and moment in a single, memorable glass.
Alcohol: 14.9%
93 POINTS - "The Caterwaul 2023 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and penetrating, yet it captures an elegance from the exquisite vintage, with aromas of violets, fresh black fruits, blueberry compote, black tea leaves, baking spices, and anise. On the palate, the wine shows off flavors of blackberry, black plum, cassis, black cherries, and dark chocolate. The wine is structured with firm acidity and polished tannins, contributing to a pleasant finish." - Anne Sewell Briggs
91 POINTS - "The Caterwaul 2023 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and penetrating, yet it captures an elegance from the exquisite vintage, with aromas of violets, fresh black fruits, blueberry compote, black tea leaves, baking spices, and anise. On the palate, the wine shows off flavors of blackberry, black plum, cassis, black cherries, and dark chocolate. The wine is structured with firm acidity and polished tannins, contributing to a pleasant finish." - Wine Spectator
91 POINTS - "The Caterwaul 2023 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and penetrating, yet it captures an elegance from the exquisite vintage, with aromas of violets, fresh black fruits, blueberry compote, black tea leaves, baking spices, and anise. On the palate, the wine shows off flavors of blackberry, black plum, cassis, black cherries, and dark chocolate. The wine is structured with firm acidity and polished tannins, contributing to a pleasant finish." - Wine Spectator
Accentuated in great growing seasons, old-vine Cabernet always brings an extra element to our wines with a more naturally occurring complex core of flavors. Black cherry and redcurrant aromatics are ever-present, showcasing brightness from the cool Sonoma nights and an evocative earthiness from sitting in the shadow of Mount St. Helena. Expressive but refined and powerful but balanced, this wine focuses on the accessible nature of a legendary vintage. Chewy, round tannin supports a palate of melted baking chocolate, raspberry compote, and fresh sage. This is a wine with broad appeal, offering satisfaction to all levels of wine drinker. A touch of eucalyptus brings a lightness to the very end with a hint of sweetness from French oak barriques framing the lingering finish.