2018 Aperture Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

Wine is an artistic expression as personal and universal as photography. So it only makes sense that Andy and Jesse Katz would finally find a way to work together to produce some of the most stunning wines from California. Andy Katz made his name as one of the greatest photographers of his generation, and his work graces coffee-table books, galleries, and album covers around the globe. Andy's son, Jesse Katz, in a remarkably short period of time, has made himself into one of the most respected wine professionals in California. He was the first winemaker ever to be included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, and had been named a Wine Spectator “Rising Star.” This father-son duo has the wine world clamoring to get a taste of their cool-climate Bordalais style wines. Get ready to hear the name, Jesse Katz, for years to come.

Jesse’s mission for Aperture is to find the top cool-climate spots around California for his beloved Bordeaux varieties to thrive in. Eighteen harvests learning from the best producers in the world—Petrus, Screaming Eagle, Viña Cobos, Bodega Noemia, and more—have led to this moment at Aperture, where his wines have generated buzz and critical acclaim in equal measure. Jesse has earned it all: A lifetime of preparation has led to this moment.

All the fruit at Aperature is hand-harvested and brought into the winery within hours of being picked. Everything is methodically and obsessively sorted. A cold soak of 4-7 days with minimal air incorporation starts the extraction process and then cool fermentation with native yeast carries out the remaining. Air and temperature are controlled throughout the 14-28 day fermentation and extended maceration is determined lot by lot. Jesse walks a fine line of full extraction but still maintains an elegant and silky texture. Wines go through malolactic fermentation in barrel and are aged (sur-lees) for 18 months. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, and un-acidified. Focusing first on the Cabernet fruit from four mineral-rich, volcanic soil sites nestled on cooler hillside slopes in the Alexander Valley, this vintage’s blend is uniquely crafted with delicate inclusions of Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

Aging: 18 Months in 50% New French Oak  

Red Wine. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Full-bodied and elegant, offering layered, ripe fruit impressions - blackberries, cassis, and ripe blueberries. The mouthfeel is dense and round, with smooth, expertly structured tannins and subtle dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and light spice notes leading to an extended and lasting finish.

Opaque ruby purple in the glass, it has an incredible perfume loaded with oral nuances, its cassis and boysenberry fruit tempered by a mineral streak and accented by notes of dried thyme, fresh tobacco leaves, mint chocolate, clover, and bay leaves. The palate is stunning, powerful but silky and fresh, lushly fruited and nuanced, and finishing very long. While this 2018 is approachable and utterly delicious now, it will reward cellaring and should be very long-lived. ~97 Wine Advocate

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