Stringer Cellars 2018 Lupin Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

"Way up at the top of a long and winding road the above the city of Sonoma, you will find Lupin Ridge vineyards. It is among the highest elevation vineyards in Sonoma County at nearly 2000 feet of elevation. The small vineyard located in the new Moon Mountain District AVA is planted exclusively to Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon. The hot days and cool nights make it the perfect place to fully ripen Cabernet, while still retaining bright acidity.

The hand picked and fully destemmed fruit was fermented in a single open top stainless steel  fermenter. It was cold soaked for 5 days before being inoculated. Once fermentation began, the tank was pumped over once in the morning and again in the evening with a punch down in between. The fermentation was allowed to reach a maximum temperature of 92 degrees. After a total of 17 days, the tank was drained and pressed gently pressed. The wine aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 20 months. Our favorite four barrels of the lot were selected for this bottling.

This Cabernet is decidedly rather "old school" in style with firm mountain tannins and scents of cedar and graphite. Its still tight in its youth, but with air it open up to reveal notes of cherry, ripe cranberry and cocoa. Cellar time will be greatly rewarded as the ample tannins will soften and the mid-pallet will blossom."

"If at first seeming fairly direct with slightly juicy fruit in the lead on the nose, this very solidly built youngster opens to reveal a good deal of layering and plenty of defined Cabernet complexity with air, and, once in the mouth, it ups the ante in terms of density, depth and fruity confidence. It is still fairly tight and firmed by ample varietal tannins yet is in no way crude or coarse, but it is a wine meant for the cellar and is a serious effort with the structure and stamina to grow for a good eight to ten years." - Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, 92 Points