WineSmith Heringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting notes & discussion 37

Typically $40/bottle from WineSmith Cellars
Vintage 2021 from Clarksburg, CA
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; NE; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About WineSmith Cellars: “WineSmith wines are noted for their longevity, classic balance, structural integrity, minerality and understated soulfulness. They often are aged extensively prior to release. When drinking a WineSmith wine, always ask yourself ‘What is this wine trying to teach me?’ Clark is a vocal advocate of living soil and graceful longevity, and generally avoids excessive oak, alcohol, or extended hang-time. He is not shy about employing new tools when they are needed, such as alcohol adjustment to bring fruit into balance or micro-oxygenation to build refined structure, but always fully discloses techniques which are controversial and is outspoken in explaining his rationale. His book, Postmodern Winemaking, is the culmination of four decades of reflection on wine’s true nature.”

Clarksburg Clark

TASTING NOTES:
“In contrast to our long-aging classic-style clarets, in 2021 we together created this lively young offering showcasing the New World at its best – brimming with cherry and blueberry aromas kissed by French oak. Its ample velvety tannins benefit from 2% each of Tannat and Malbec, which contribute finesse and brightness. Delightfully drinkable now, its refined tannin structure promises further aging potential, perhaps a decade over which to acquire complexity.” (AbV 13.7%, pH 3.73, 23.9 Brix)

BARRELS: Four weeks microbüllage, 20 months in neutral French oak.

TANGENTIALLY RELATED FACT to help you make conversation over this wine:
Clark made a wine with grapes from Clarksburg. Really? Clarksburg, Clark? Nice try, but that’s about as convincing as signing a note of absence as from “My Mom” or a doctor’s note from “Dr. Hospital!”

What’s that? It’s got its own AVA that spans three counties? Well, it has parts in three counties: Sacramento County, Solano County, and Yolo County. I’m sure Yolo County has had a jump in general interest over the last decade for reasons. The appellation covers 64,640 acres of land that is, obviously, near Clarksburg. As of 2022, however, it may have received an extra 27,945 acres. One advantage to the Clarksburg AVA comes from the cold air and fog of San Francisco Bay moving through the area, something that presumably is spottier in other Sacramento-adjacent appellations. Curiously, in a 2007 article describing the appellation, it was mentioned that 90% of the grapes grown are crushed in facilities elsewhere and few wines actually release with Clarksburg as their appellation. A lot can change in 16 years, though, I’m sure.

PAIRS WITH (winery recommended): Steak frites or grilled lamb.

OR (really-going-with-the-theme-option): Sharing a glass with Dr. Hospital or My Mom.

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