Lancaster 2021 Winemaker's Cuvee

The Lancaster 2021 Winemaker’s Cuvée is a meticulously crafted blend dominated by 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, supported by 10% Cabernet Franc, and rounded out with small percentages of Merlot and Petit Verdot. Displaying a deep, saturated red color, the wine’s complexity reveals itself from the first swirl, offering luxurious aromas of cassis, mocha, menthol, and a subtle hint of polished leather. As it opens, layers of dark fruit intermingle with earthy nuances, giving way to a velvety, full-bodied palate that’s both generous and balanced. The ripe yet restrained profile ensures it remains elegant, avoiding heaviness while delivering a long, graceful finish. This is a wine built for both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring, as it promises to evolve beautifully over the next decade.

Upon tasting, the wine reveals a brawny yet refined character, with notes of toasted walnuts, roasted plums, and tawny spices, all supported by firm, sandy tannins. The Cabernet Sauvignon dominates with its intensity, but the blend’s harmonious structure ensures a mid-weight, bright experience. Flavors of cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, and cocoa powder coat the palate, leading to a gripping, tannic finish that showcases its youthful vibrancy and aging potential.

What sets this wine apart is the unique terroir of Alexander Valley, shaped millions of years ago by volcanic and seismic activity. The region’s diverse soils, combined with nutrient-poor hillsides, force the vines to focus their energy on producing grapes of remarkable character and concentration. Lancaster’s hillside estate benefits from alluvial and gravelly loam soils, which, paired with the warm climate, result in wines with both richness and balance.

Under the careful watch of viticulturist Brian Malone and winemaker David Drake, each vineyard block is meticulously managed using advanced technology such as satellite mapping and vineyard weather stations. The attention to microclimates and superior clones ensures that each vintage reflects the estate’s best attributes. The 2021 Winemaker’s Cuvée embodies these efforts, offering a multifaceted wine with bold flavors of black cherry, currant, tobacco, and graphite, underscored by savory elements and a touch of toasted oak. This Cabernet-driven blend competes with some of Napa Valley’s finest, making it a must-have for any serious collector or enthusiast looking to explore the depth of Alexander Valley wines.

Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, & 2% Marsanne

Alcohol: 15%

94 POINTS - "The 2021 Winemaker's Cuvee Red Blend is composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. A saturated red color, it opens in the glass to reveal a luxurious and layered profile with notes of cassis, menthol, polished leather, and mocha. Full-bodied and velvety on the palate, it’s generous, offering a balanced and ripe feel without feeling weighty, and it has an elegantly rich and tapered finish. It’s going to age gracefully over the coming 10 years." - Jeb Dunnuck

92 POINTS - "This solidly built, brawny wine is full-bodied, ripe in flavor and moderately tannic. Toasted walnuts, roasted plums and tawny spices are braced by good, sandy tannins. Drink or hold." - James Suckling

90 POINTS - "This Cabernet-dominated blend is intense but charming, with a creamy chocolate-covered-cherry aroma wafting from the glass. The palate is midweight and bright, with cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and cocoa-powder flavors coating the palate, leading to a grippy, tannic finish." - Wine Enthusiast