2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast
Gold Medal, San Francisco Chronicle 91 Points, California State Fair
Tasting Notes
Showcasing a dark garnet color in the glass, the 2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon boasts alluring amounts of brambly fruit, savory spice, and toasted oak on the nose. On the palate, rich flavors of plums and blackberries lead to a pleasant hint of vanilla and spice. A supple mouthfeel and velvety tannins add to the wine’s elegant appeal, while its lingering silky texture leaves a lasting impression.
Aromatics
Red berry fruits dominate - bright raspberry, ripe cherry, and blackberry give lovely jammy aromas, with hints of black currant. A touch of kola nut, toasted oak, and cigar box round out the enticing aromas.
Palate
Juicy red and black-cherry fruit flavors are accented by an integrated tannic structure to provide balance and an elegant finish.
Food Pairings
Pairs well with a wide range of grilled meats, from burgers to the finest steak. A perfect wine for pizza, BBQ or to accompany an artisanal cheese plate.
Vineyard/Vintage Notes
Method of Production
The fruit was night-harvested and crushed, 100% destemmed, within hours to maintain quality. The must was cold soaked for 24 hours to produce better color, aromatics, flavor, and tannin extraction. Fermented within weeks with BDX and D254 yeast.
Specs
Vintage: 2017
Composition: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Central Coast
Aging: Aged 8 months on French oak, 100% Malolactic fermentation
Harvest: Night picked at 24.8°Brix
Fermentation: BDX & D254 yeast, Pumped over daily, pressed off at dry
Alcohol: 13.9%
pH: 3.62
TA: 5.75 g/L
Winemaker: Richard Shelton
Included in the Box
6-bottles:
6x 2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast
Case:
12x 2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast
A former Wells Fargo stagecoach stop, the town of Ballard was founded in 1880 with lofty dreams of being a future metropolis. But sometimes history has a different plan. While Ballard is the oldest community within the famed Santa Ynez Valley on California’s Central Coast, it is also the smallest, despite the dreams of its founders.
Ballard was named for William Ballard, who ran the Wells Fargo station from 1862 to 1870. Although Ballard served as the connection point between rural and seaside communities, it never grew in mass like its neighbor Santa Barbara, and is now much as it was over 100 years ago.
Today, Ballard is a combination of the sleepy village and upscale bedroom community. The surrounding area is noted for its thriving and well-respected wine industry and was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film “Sideways.” Vineyards, coastal bluffs, and ranches merge seamlessly together through roads the locals call “lanes.” Ultimately, many of these paths end up in Ballard.
The Ballard Lane wines are a reflection of the Millers, a Central Coast family who has farmed the area for five generations. Their proprietary knowledge of the climate and terroirs of the Central Coast are reflected in each bottle of Ballard Lane wine.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WY
From the video “great QPR wine”…hopefully some rats will prove this out! I’m always on the lookout for good QPR wine. The only review in Cellar Tracker is positive.
@ejrunion@TimW I’m listening too. 1500 cases isn’t exactly grocery store mass-distribution wine and their $15 retail price seems to be a ‘true retail’. I just don’t want 12 bottles of flabby cab that I have to use for cooking or Sangria.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon - $15 = 13.63%
Very excited to be the lab rat on this one! I go up to Santa Ynez all the time (or at least used to pre-quarantine) and will add this to my list of wineries to visit.
The first thing I noticed when I poured a glass was the color - it is a gorgeous bright red! I have a Syrah in my cellar with a similar color but haven’t seen it on a Cab before.
I had a glass of the Ballard Lane Cab pre-dinner and noticed the fruit right away. For me the berries were what stood out the most. I like really balanced wine where the fruit is not too strong and this was right at that level. It was very smooth and balanced. I drink a lot of Zins and frequently come across hot ones. Its been awhile since I had a Cab and this was very balanced.
I had a glass with dinner - a lasagne - and it went well with it. I wish I had steak because I do think this would complement red meat very well.
I predominantly drink reds but mostly Zins. Its been a while since I had a Cab but I really enjoyed this one and its at a great price point. I’m probably in for a case; although I just moved and have yet to unpack my cellar yet so am not sure how much room I have at the moment.
It’s good. Definitely ripe red fruit on the nose when you open it, i get cherries. It first sip it was a bit tight, but opened up nicely as dinner went on (simply chicken soup but the Worcestershire sauce helped!). Taste of plum (some richness) and not quite yet ripe blackberries (an acidic tartness). Maybe some young cherries as well. The finish was a little short. There, and somewhat laying but not quite as full as I was expecting. Overall, a good casual cab! Not sure what it would go with, maybe roasted meat as opposed to chicken soup. The char of a grill kind of helping it out!
Lovely QPR (quality to price ratio) and a wine I drink at least on a weekly basis. If you have any questions about this wine, I’m always happy to help answer them. Thanks for all the support!
Wes Hagen is a very respected wine maker and wine business person. i believe he was instrumental in getting some appellations approved in the Central CA region back in the day. i’ll look up which one. But definitely someone with top level knowledge on wine. welcome Wes!
@Winedavid49 Ballard is part of the Miller Family Wine Company, as is J. Wilkes Wines for which Wes is the winemaker. As he says in the video, he’s also brand ambassador for MFWC. All part of the family.
@DanNC@Winedavid49@WesHagen
That’s cool! Jeff Wilkes sister Kelly used to work for me in Florida until she moved to Texas several years ago. She talked about how amazing the wines were, but I’ve never gotten to try one. While it does list Wes Hagen as the winemaker for J Wilkes, I believe the winemaker for today’s offer is someone else.
@Winedavid49 I wrote the petitions to establish Sta Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon of SB, and (soon to be approved) Alisos Canyon AVAs. Stoked you knew that! Also, my middle name is David, so let’s have a drink sometime~
@WesHagen
Where, more specifically, are the grapes from? The Central Coast is very big and has equally large variations in grape quality up and down the Santa Barbara to Monterey coast/Salinas Valley.
Oh dear, my wine stockpile is getting too big for my tiny apartment. Oh well. I’ll take all of the cabs, and have to drink more wine.
/giphy gilded-neutral-bean
@ecue
Pasta Drop is sold out. That was fun. Probably my first and last visit. I really don’t feel a need to send bulk pasta to my friends or even myself.
@ecue To make the wine more fruity and effusive immediately, decant in the bottle! Open the stelvin, pour out a few ounces in your glass, screw the cap back on tight and give it a shake like a martini shaker. This will get lots of dissolved O2 into the wine and give it a brighter, fruitier nose and flavor.
2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast
Gold Medal, San Francisco Chronicle
91 Points, California State Fair
Tasting Notes
Aromatics
Palate
Food Pairings
Vineyard/Vintage Notes
Method of Production
Specs
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$201.88/case (including shipping) at Miller Family Wines
About The Winery
Winery: Ballard Lane
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jun 1 - Thursday, Jun 4
Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon
6 bottles for $54.99 $9.17/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $94.99 $7.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon
From the video “great QPR wine”…hopefully some rats will prove this out! I’m always on the lookout for good QPR wine. The only review in Cellar Tracker is positive.
@TimW Send in the Rats!!! I depend upon their reviews!!!
@ejrunion @TimW I’m listening too. 1500 cases isn’t exactly grocery store mass-distribution wine and their $15 retail price seems to be a ‘true retail’. I just don’t want 12 bottles of flabby cab that I have to use for cooking or Sangria.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon - $15 = 13.63%
I’ve been watching this, and we do need some Rattage.
Very excited to be the lab rat on this one! I go up to Santa Ynez all the time (or at least used to pre-quarantine) and will add this to my list of wineries to visit.
The first thing I noticed when I poured a glass was the color - it is a gorgeous bright red! I have a Syrah in my cellar with a similar color but haven’t seen it on a Cab before.
I had a glass of the Ballard Lane Cab pre-dinner and noticed the fruit right away. For me the berries were what stood out the most. I like really balanced wine where the fruit is not too strong and this was right at that level. It was very smooth and balanced. I drink a lot of Zins and frequently come across hot ones. Its been awhile since I had a Cab and this was very balanced.
I had a glass with dinner - a lasagne - and it went well with it. I wish I had steak because I do think this would complement red meat very well.
I predominantly drink reds but mostly Zins. Its been a while since I had a Cab but I really enjoyed this one and its at a great price point. I’m probably in for a case; although I just moved and have yet to unpack my cellar yet so am not sure how much room I have at the moment.
@reesai thank you for the great report. I like the pre-dinner and then with dinner notes.
It’s good. Definitely ripe red fruit on the nose when you open it, i get cherries. It first sip it was a bit tight, but opened up nicely as dinner went on (simply chicken soup but the Worcestershire sauce helped!). Taste of plum (some richness) and not quite yet ripe blackberries (an acidic tartness). Maybe some young cherries as well. The finish was a little short. There, and somewhat laying but not quite as full as I was expecting. Overall, a good casual cab! Not sure what it would go with, maybe roasted meat as opposed to chicken soup. The char of a grill kind of helping it out!
@nccrocker thank you. It’s good to have a solid casual cab hanging around.
@nccrocker I agree - I think this would be great with something that has a char on it.
Lovely QPR (quality to price ratio) and a wine I drink at least on a weekly basis. If you have any questions about this wine, I’m always happy to help answer them. Thanks for all the support!
@WesHagen @winedavid49
You with the producer? What capacity?
If so, let me get you a grape badge so you are more easily identified.
Wes Hagen is a very respected wine maker and wine business person. i believe he was instrumental in getting some appellations approved in the Central CA region back in the day. i’ll look up which one. But definitely someone with top level knowledge on wine. welcome Wes!
@Winedavid49 Ballard is part of the Miller Family Wine Company, as is J. Wilkes Wines for which Wes is the winemaker. As he says in the video, he’s also brand ambassador for MFWC. All part of the family.
@DanNC @Winedavid49 @WesHagen
That’s cool! Jeff Wilkes sister Kelly used to work for me in Florida until she moved to Texas several years ago. She talked about how amazing the wines were, but I’ve never gotten to try one. While it does list Wes Hagen as the winemaker for J Wilkes, I believe the winemaker for today’s offer is someone else.
@Winedavid49 I wrote the petitions to establish Sta Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon of SB, and (soon to be approved) Alisos Canyon AVAs. Stoked you knew that! Also, my middle name is David, so let’s have a drink sometime~
@WesHagen
Where, more specifically, are the grapes from? The Central Coast is very big and has equally large variations in grape quality up and down the Santa Barbara to Monterey coast/Salinas Valley.
@klezman Primarily from our Estate vineyard in the Paso Robles Highlands AVA: It’s 77% CS, 3 Cab Franc and 20% Merlot, an excellent Bordeaux blend!
At this price, worth a try right?
/giphy faceted-unknown-soup
Oh dear, my wine stockpile is getting too big for my tiny apartment. Oh well. I’ll take all of the cabs, and have to drink more wine.
/giphy gilded-neutral-bean
@teawithbliss Love the attitude! And Mr Bean
Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Cenral Coast, 2017 the year of our lord. Time to screw off the top and jump in.
It has a deep red garnet color. The nose gives me spice & plums.
The first couple sips give me a dry chalky experience. This mellows over time into more of an oaky finish, but not too fancy.
Overtime I get blackberry, vanilla hints, and a more silky mouthfeel, but it’s still more bluejeans at a BBQ to me than a pinky’d up bowtie affair.
This has an excellent quality to price ratio. Think high end everyday drinker. Would pair excellent with grilled nom noms.
So goto Pasta Drop, buy their 1st offering, and apply the coupon to this and it’s a pretty tremendous deal. Even without that, it’s well worth it.
@ecue Well, you talked me into it - and I damn near forgot my coupon!
/giphy mystical-virtuous-gate
@ecue
Pasta Drop is sold out. That was fun. Probably my first and last visit. I really don’t feel a need to send bulk pasta to my friends or even myself.
@chipgreen @ecue I nailed a free offer with the coupon - I figure a pound or two to me, and the local food bank will get the rest.
@ecue To make the wine more fruity and effusive immediately, decant in the bottle! Open the stelvin, pour out a few ounces in your glass, screw the cap back on tight and give it a shake like a martini shaker. This will get lots of dissolved O2 into the wine and give it a brighter, fruitier nose and flavor.
@ecue @WesHagen Mollydooker shake!
/giphy freaky-abashed-malt
Ok that’s gross
No VT
And no RI…
Anyone in MA want to split a case?
It had me at screw-top.
@Turbo5000 Stelvin closures are awesome!
VAN MURALS! GROUND SQUIRRELS! SPIT CURLS! AWESOME!
@WesHagen Had to look that up, interesting! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw_cap_(wine)
@WesHagen One reason I like my layer cake so much, screw-top!
Anything that pairs well with Ira Hayes I am in for.
/giphy angelic-joyful-tungsten
@eanvick Anyone who raised a flag on Iwo Jima is my kind of hero! Semper Fidelis!
Adding as a late comment to future hopeful offerings. Delicious. I thought I was over cabs until I took a swinger on this and it restored my faith.