Wine Maker: Ana Diogo-Draper

Vintage: 2017

Wine Name/Vineyard: Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Sonoma

State or country: California

Price: $18.99

ABV: 15.0%

Cases produced: N/A

The Barrel Cellar Score:  90 points

Review date: January 24, 2021

About the Winemaker: Winemaker Ana Diogo-Draper’s first experience with wine making came in her youth, as she planted vines. Over time, she honed her winemaking skills through study (she has an agricultural degree) and through experience. She moved to the United States in 2005 and has held various winemaking roles since. Ana produced this wine specifically for distribution through Naked Wines. The grapes in this Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested from Moon Mountain Vineyard in Sonoma. They grew in a westward facing vineyard and benefited from a high elevation, volcanic soil, and plentiful sunshine.

Color:  Deep Purple

Nose:  Oak, fresh herbs, and floral notes

Taste: Dried herbs, cinnamon, fig, plum, and earth.  Finish: Sustained with oak and black pepper

Assessment: This Cabernet’s nose is huge, with lots of oak and plentiful floral notes. It’s a fitting introduction to the wine which is also quite bold. The palate boasts lots of fruit, but the wine isn’t fruit forward in a typical California fashion. The fruit takes a back seat to a fantastic texture and wonderful grippy tannins; this wine is an absolute tannin bomb, but it is also multi-dimensional. There is complexity in its flavor; there are robust dark fruits, spicy undertones, and lots of oak, but it is the tannins that steal the show. The finish goes on for what seems like days, and serves as the perfect appetizer to your next sip.

Ready to drink now (decant); will age well for another 2-4 years. 

Ana Diogo-Draper’s 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very good wine at a steal of a price. 90 points.

Pairing recommendation: Italian Sausage covered in red sauce.