2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge
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In comparison to the Calarcadia Vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge Vineyard is more inward and backward, with incredible purity in its cassis, scorched earth, lead pencil, graphite, and rocky, crushed stone-like minerality. Coming all from a tiny parcel on the estate and Clone 22 Cabernet Sauvignon, this dense, powerful, full-bodied, absolutely sensational 2021 needs to be forgotten for 5-7 years (a decade might be better) and will evolve for 30-40 years. Following this and the Calarcadia Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon over the coming decades will be vinous nirvana. Hats off to the team at the Vineyardist for truly remarkable, world-class wines.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
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The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge is another super-expressive wine from The Vineyardist. It emerges from a steep southeast-facing parcel planted on red Aiken soils. Medium in body, yet deep, the 2021 marries power with elegance. Graphite, lavender, spice, crème de cassis and espresso meld into the polished, refined finish framed by grippy tannins.
Coming from lower down on the hillside and incorporating 6% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Terrace is tight and structured, with some firmer, angular tannins that are backed up by quality fruit and richness. It's medium to full-bodied and has classic red and black fruits, leather, and dried herbs, as well as outstanding length. Although it doesn't appear to match the other releases here, it's certainly going to be an outstanding wine.
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge is a knock-out. Medium in body and super-refined, the 2021 has tons of energy driving a core of red/purplish fruit. Sweet, perfumed and exceptionally beautiful, the Heritage Ridge is also rather vivid. The Heritage Ridge is not quite as big or potent as some of the other wines in the range, but it is the most refined.