Winery: Ken Forrester Wines

Vintage: 2013

Wine Name/Vineyard: The Bridge

Wine Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: North Coast

State or country: California

Price: $100

ABV: 14.7%

Cases produced: N/A

The Barrel Cellar Score:  93 points

Review date: Decemberr 11, 2020

About the Winemaker: This wine was created in partnership between Ken Forrester and Jesse Katz. It is produced using grapes from a single lot of vines in the Sonoma Valley. The wines Ken and Jesse have produced on their own have been well regarded, this wine is no exception to that, and perhaps takes their wines to another level.

Color:  Deep Purple

Nose:  Oak, raisins, and cinnamon

Taste: Cherry, well ripened plum, cinnamon, cassis, blackberry, licorice, blackberries fire roasted bell pepper. Lengthy finish with oak, black pepper, and hints of pear.

Assessment: The raisin scent on the nose had me hoping that this wine wouldn’t turn out to be bogged down by flavors of over ripe fruit; fortunately, it turned out to be the anything but. “The Bridge” is California done right. It’s inky, full bodied, and coating. It has nice grippy tannins, but has enough acidity to balance out the wine and to hold the wine’s fruitiness in check. The wine has complexity of character, backbone (bold), and a spicy aspect that makes it perfect for late fall and winter. My favorite part of this wine is hints of cinnamon that intertwine with plentiful tannins; it creates a thirst, leaving you wanting another sip,

Ready to drink now.

Ken Forrester Wines’ The Bridge is an exceptional wine. 93 points.

Pairing recommendation: Aged white cheese, grilled lamb chops, or pasta with red pepper and fresh crushed tomatoes.