- 91 points -
GOLD
Michael Cervin, July 2020 (Vintage 2017)Bright red fruit stars in this young and fresh wine. It's balanced by a solid acidity.
See detailed press review
MATCHBOOK WINES
Mossback Cabernet-Sauvignon
2013
Country
United States
Regulated designation
American Viticultural Areas (AVA)
Region
California
Subregion
Sonoma, Chalk Hill
Varietal(s)
Cabernet Sauvignon
80 %
Merlot
20 %
Colour
Red
Aging vessel type
Aged in French, Hungarian and American oak barrels for 22 months.
Producer's website
About this winery
Why Matchbook? As a farm kid growing up in the late 1950´s and early 1960´s John Giguiere was a confirmed pyromaniac starting various things on fire such as his father´s wheat field. At one point, fearing total ruin from his kids burning him out of the house and farm, his father took them to the city jail for an hour stay to impress upon his brother and him the futility of their fascination with fire. John and his brother answered at a later date by graduating from random fires to the...
See the MATCHBOOK WINES detail page for more information on this brand
Product notes
The grapes were harvested by hand in one-half ton bins, then destemmed and crushed into small stainless steel fermenters.
Production notes
The cabernet sauvignon grapes were harvested by hand in one-half ton bins, then destemmed and crushed into small stainless steel fermenters. We chilled the must to 55 degrees for 24 hours for its “cold soak” to enhance the berry aromas, and bled the juice from the tank to concentrate flavors. We allowed the tanks to warm naturally, and slowly inoculated the wine with a Bordeaux yeast isolate. We pumped over the wine twice a day to enhance color stability and aromas. It was pressed off at dryness, then aged in French, Hungarian and American oak barrels for 22 months. The final blend contains 13% petit verdot and 10% merlot for added structure and complexity.
Tasting notes
The 2013 Mossback Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, rustic, muscular wine. A brooding ruby red, this California classic brings aromas of blackberry, cassis and leather. Flavors of dark cherries and toasty oak combine with seamless, ample tannins that take a full ride across the palate. Bold yet velvety, rich with a grip, Mossback Cabernet Sauvignon will age gracefully for several years.
Press reviews
- 90 points -
June 2017 (Vintage 2014)Floral and soft, this feels as much like merlot as cabernet, but its fruit is fresh and appealing, with the juicy spice of wild blueberries and a subtle sweetness from oak. It’s not a mineral-inflected cabernet to age, but rather a charming one to enjoy over the next few years with rare lamb chops.
See detailed press review