- About This Wine
- Ratings & Reviews
- Tasting Notes
About This Wine
Ratings & Reviews
Tasting Notes
ABOUT THIS WINE
REVIEWS
WINEMAKER NOTES
From the rugged, windswept slopes of Sonoma’s Moon Mountain District comes The Calling’s 2021 “Our Tribute” Cabernet Sauvignon—a wine of striking concentration and nobility, crafted in homage to the fathers who instilled in us the unwavering pursuit of excellence. This bottling reflects not only the vision of Jim Nantz and Peter Deutsch, but also the tireless labor of a small family grower who cultivates Cabernet Sauvignon in steep, rocky soils with the same devotion that defines this project. The 2021 vintage delivers a commanding expression of mountain terroir, structured with precision and layered with elegance.
In the glass, the wine is nearly opaque, presenting a deep garnet core framed by crimson edges. Aromatically, it bursts from the glass with a seductive bouquet of blackberry compote, warm blueberry reduction, espresso roast, graphite, and clove. With air, it reveals further nuance—balsam, vanilla bean, scorched earth, and a lifted note of violet. The wine’s intensity is matched by its refinement, a hallmark of the Moon Mountain AVA’s signature altitude, exposure, and volcanic soils.
The palate is expansive and mouth-coating, a true testament to meticulous viticulture and sensitive cellar work. Ripe black cherry, macerated plum, and cassis weave through layers of bittersweet chocolate, black licorice, and toasted oak, supported by velvety yet firm mountain tannins. There’s a savory mineral core here that anchors the fruit, carrying it across the mid-palate into a finish that resonates with length and grace—tinged with dark spice, cedar, and crushed rock. The 2021 vintage, aged 20 months in 100% French oak (60% new), showcases both purity and polish, with a seamless integration of structure and suppleness.
Unfined and unfiltered, this wine retains all of its native complexity and textural richness, a result of extended maceration and barrel fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Winemaker James MacPhail captures the soul of Moon Mountain Cabernet in this bottling, achieving both power and finesse. While already compelling in its youth, this wine will reward a decade or more of cellaring, as its components meld into a symphonic whole.
The Calling 2021 “Our Tribute” Cabernet is more than just a wine—it is a story of generational inspiration and dedication, etched into each bottle with the precision of mountain farming and the heart of familial legacy. A profound expression of Sonoma’s high-elevation pedigree.
Alcohol: 13.5%
In the glass, the wine is nearly opaque, presenting a deep garnet core framed by crimson edges. Aromatically, it bursts from the glass with a seductive bouquet of blackberry compote, warm blueberry reduction, espresso roast, graphite, and clove. With air, it reveals further nuance—balsam, vanilla bean, scorched earth, and a lifted note of violet. The wine’s intensity is matched by its refinement, a hallmark of the Moon Mountain AVA’s signature altitude, exposure, and volcanic soils.
The palate is expansive and mouth-coating, a true testament to meticulous viticulture and sensitive cellar work. Ripe black cherry, macerated plum, and cassis weave through layers of bittersweet chocolate, black licorice, and toasted oak, supported by velvety yet firm mountain tannins. There’s a savory mineral core here that anchors the fruit, carrying it across the mid-palate into a finish that resonates with length and grace—tinged with dark spice, cedar, and crushed rock. The 2021 vintage, aged 20 months in 100% French oak (60% new), showcases both purity and polish, with a seamless integration of structure and suppleness.
Unfined and unfiltered, this wine retains all of its native complexity and textural richness, a result of extended maceration and barrel fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Winemaker James MacPhail captures the soul of Moon Mountain Cabernet in this bottling, achieving both power and finesse. While already compelling in its youth, this wine will reward a decade or more of cellaring, as its components meld into a symphonic whole.
The Calling 2021 “Our Tribute” Cabernet is more than just a wine—it is a story of generational inspiration and dedication, etched into each bottle with the precision of mountain farming and the heart of familial legacy. A profound expression of Sonoma’s high-elevation pedigree.
Alcohol: 13.5%
92 POINTS - "Aromas of coffee, cocoa and black plum dominate the nose of this Cabernet, while the palate is exceptionally broad and powerful, with rich, earthy flavors of concentrated cherry, mocha, black pepper and mint taking center stage. This should soften nicely in the cellar. Best from 2030-2045." - Wine Enthusiast
Dark, brooding red in the glass, aromas of ripe black fruits, powerful spice, and sweet vanilla are prominent. The palate is complex and elegant, with bold fruit, hints of baking spice, polished tannins, and a long, rich finish.