This wine has a deep and intense red color with a brushstroke of purple. In the nose: ripe black cherry fruit, impeccably festooned with notes of tobacco, chocolate, and mocha. On the palate: medium-bodied, well-integrated, fleshy tannins with an interesting combination of sweet and sour cherry fruit.
Vintage 2023
What an amazing year 2023! We finally got rain in the early spring and the vines soaked it up. It kept raining into early summer, and we had 3 times as much rain as we’ve had in the past 3 years, all in one season. This left us with a cooler vintage and late ripening. That’s just fine with us because the fruit got longer than normal hang times which made for the darkest color in reds and intense flavors in the whites. This has been the best quality we’ve seen in a few years. Look out for vintage 2023 it’s going to be one for the books.
Shannon Ranch wines are crafted and grown with a commitment of sustainability. Over 1,000 head of Corriedale Sheep manage our vineyards and land, reducing the need for tractor passes and naturally fertilizing the soils. First introduced to the United States over 100 years ago, these sheep provide robust coats of wool to keep us warm as well as keeping our grapevines healthy. It is with their help that we craft robust, complex, and velvety wines suitable for any occasion.
Specs
Varietal Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah
Alcohol: 13.5%
Acidity: 0.65
pH: 3.84
RS: 0.7
2023 Urgency Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
Color: Clear, deep garnet
Aroma: Cherry and blackberry, with savory notes of spice and black pepper
Flavor: Black fruit and cherry along with flavors of red bell pepper and spice notes of vanilla from aging in oak barrels
Winemaking Notes
The grapes used to produce our 2023 URGENCY Cabernet Sauvignon came from the hills and slopes of ultra-premium vineyards in Northern California. A blend from multiple vineyard sites was used to create complexity and balance.
Food Pairings
This wine will pair beautifully with rich grilled meats, eggplant parmigiana or goat’s cheeses.
Even before the URGENCY vineyard was planted, Clay Shannon’s instincts told him that the blend of volcanic soils would produce full, rich flavors and the long, warm summer days would ripen the grapes perfectly. This special piece of dirt creates wines that do not require long aging, the lush flavors show well upon their release.
At Shannon Ridge, we live in harmony with Mother Nature. The vineyards feed the sheep, the sheep feed the vines; the lamb feeds the people, and people drink the wine and wear wool.
We are dedicated to creating a family of wines that consumers love at top-quality and affordable prices. We are passionate about preserving our land, not only for great vineyard sites, but for the wild creatures which share our property. Our sustainability practices integrate a flock of sheep that clean the vineyards, remove the excess canopy, and reduce the need for chemicals, while providing natural fertilizer.
“We grow incredible mountain fruit at a great value for our customers. You can’t find this level of quality at an everyday drinking price.”
Clay grew up on a farm in Healdsburg in Sonoma County. He began his career as a vineyard manager in St. Helena, traveling the wine regions of California and managing the company’s vineyards. A short time later he started his own vineyard management company, growing grapes for some of the top wineries and fruit companies in Northern California. Owner and visionary leader of Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, Clay Shannon has transformed his ranch into one of the agricultural icons of California’s North Coast, and in doing so is changing the face and substance of grape-growing in the USA.
In 1995, Clay discovered a magnificent piece of property in the hills overlooking Clear Lake in Lake County, thirty-five miles north of Napa’s famed vineyards. He quickly set out to develop vineyards, Clay’s vision was simple: “We wanted to grow the best fruit in the world,” says Clay, “but we wanted to do it in a way that made us happy living there.”
“Sustainability wasn’t some philosophical concept; it is the way we live our lives.”
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI
Yo I’m a lab rat, this came today. I just got home and it’s 11 pm. I’ll open it right now and have a sip then really get into it tomorrow and give more feedback. I have the Shannon Ranch 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon NON urgency.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Shannon Ridge Mixed Reds - $50 = 33.33%
As always, it was exciting to get an email from Alice letting me know that “wine is coming our way”. I anticipated the delivery throughout the day and tried to imagine what kind of wine it would be. Unfortunately, UPS seemed not on their usual schedule and by 4:55 PM nothing had arrived and we had a neighborhood party to go to at 5:00. I wrote a note for the door asking if the driver would mind delivering the package to a nearby address and as we were putting our coats on to leave the big brown box truck backed up the driveway! We quickly opened the package and pulled out an always welcomed Casemates wine glass (thank you!) and a very cold bottle of Shannon Ranch Cab. It just so happens that this was probably the first time that Casemates offered a wine we were quite familiar with. A year or so ago the New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlets had a Power Buy special featuring Shannon Ranch wines. This lasted for several months and we consumed and enjoyed a fair bit of both the Cab and Zinfandel. Anyway, on to the tasting….
There were ten of us at the party and about half agreed to serve as citizen scientists. The wine was colder than it should have been, but we proceeded anyway.
All agreed that the wine was a lovely dark inky purple garnet color. Very deep and rich looking. The aroma was muted by the temperature, but we could detect red fruits and berries. First tastes had people asking if this was dry or slightly sweet. With further tastes we came to the conclusion that the fruity sweetness sensation was not actual sugar, but probably due to the fact that there were not very strong tannins and the fruity wine flavor lingered in the mouth. Nothing off putting about it at all, but when compared with a Paso Robles Cab also open on the counter, the difference in the degree of tannin was noticeable.
Where this wine really stood out was with food. We had no dinner, only had an assortment of appetizers, but these ranged from maple roasted brussel sprouts to mini quiche, cheese and crackers and caviar on cream cheese and crackers. The Shannon Ranch shined with all.
The conclusions of the lab crew were all positive. The wine is not a standout, but it is very drinkable by itself and with food of all types. Thanks Casemates for the opportunity!
2023 Urgency Cabernet Sauvignon
On the Day After Boxing Day, the UPS elf surprised me with a true gift! The 2023 Urgency Cabernet Sauvignon!
In the glass, it is a rich, deep purple-red color. Perfect for a young CabSauv.
On the nose, I was caught up in some wonderful green herbal aromas, red currants, a slight vinegary overtone (in a good way!), and black pepper. This went beyond the usual “red/black fruit” nose. Really pleasant. Lots of indescribable but delicious things happening in the glass. I’m not surprised to see the 23% Syrah listing on the label. Yep – it’s in there!!!
On the palate, this is obviously very young and very tannic. (What else would you expect from a 2023 vintage right now?) Getting beyond the tannins, it is earthy and mineral-y – maybe a little bit like hot slate after a quick summer shower? There are oaky and twiggy/leaf litter notes. As the wine breathes in the glass, the black fruit flavors come forward – blackcurrant and blackberry especially. Not a super long finish, but that could be due to the youth of the wine.
I paired with a vegetarian pasta dish (sauteed peppers, onions, tomatoes, and herb goat cheese). This was a nice addition!!!
(And all of this without the benefit of the tasting notes from the Shannon family team!)
I’m terrible at guessing age-worthiness. At the same time, I think this could use some additional time in bottle to allow the finish to develop and the heat to die back a bit. It seems to be designed as a “drink now” wine, but I would let it sit for a couple more months before it enters the weekly rotation. Price point makes this a good choice for the Tuesday Evening Dinner!
My sincere thanks to the WCC team and to the Shannon Family for introducing me to Lake County!!!
I have the Urgency to Labrat!
Color: ruby red, densely translucent.
Initial nose: red cherry.
Initial flavor: Primarily cherry, but notes of menthol, tobacco
Swallow aftertaste: something hangs around for a long time: mint? Hangs around for ages.
This, I would buy and happily drink.
2023 Shannon Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
Vintage 2023
Specs
2023 Urgency Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Food Pairings
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $312/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, Jan 21 - Wednesday, Jan 22
Shannon Ridge Mixed Reds
4 bottles for $49.99 $12.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $99.99 $8.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2023 Shannon Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
2023 Shannon Ridge Urgency Cabernet Sauvignon
Yo I’m a lab rat, this came today. I just got home and it’s 11 pm. I’ll open it right now and have a sip then really get into it tomorrow and give more feedback. I have the Shannon Ranch 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon NON urgency.
/giphy cozy-jingling-rooftop
It’s good
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Shannon Ridge Mixed Reds - $50 = 33.33%
Shannon Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
As always, it was exciting to get an email from Alice letting me know that “wine is coming our way”. I anticipated the delivery throughout the day and tried to imagine what kind of wine it would be. Unfortunately, UPS seemed not on their usual schedule and by 4:55 PM nothing had arrived and we had a neighborhood party to go to at 5:00. I wrote a note for the door asking if the driver would mind delivering the package to a nearby address and as we were putting our coats on to leave the big brown box truck backed up the driveway! We quickly opened the package and pulled out an always welcomed Casemates wine glass (thank you!) and a very cold bottle of Shannon Ranch Cab. It just so happens that this was probably the first time that Casemates offered a wine we were quite familiar with. A year or so ago the New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlets had a Power Buy special featuring Shannon Ranch wines. This lasted for several months and we consumed and enjoyed a fair bit of both the Cab and Zinfandel. Anyway, on to the tasting….
There were ten of us at the party and about half agreed to serve as citizen scientists. The wine was colder than it should have been, but we proceeded anyway.
All agreed that the wine was a lovely dark inky purple garnet color. Very deep and rich looking. The aroma was muted by the temperature, but we could detect red fruits and berries. First tastes had people asking if this was dry or slightly sweet. With further tastes we came to the conclusion that the fruity sweetness sensation was not actual sugar, but probably due to the fact that there were not very strong tannins and the fruity wine flavor lingered in the mouth. Nothing off putting about it at all, but when compared with a Paso Robles Cab also open on the counter, the difference in the degree of tannin was noticeable.
Where this wine really stood out was with food. We had no dinner, only had an assortment of appetizers, but these ranged from maple roasted brussel sprouts to mini quiche, cheese and crackers and caviar on cream cheese and crackers. The Shannon Ranch shined with all.
The conclusions of the lab crew were all positive. The wine is not a standout, but it is very drinkable by itself and with food of all types. Thanks Casemates for the opportunity!
2023 Urgency Cabernet Sauvignon
On the Day After Boxing Day, the UPS elf surprised me with a true gift! The 2023 Urgency Cabernet Sauvignon!
In the glass, it is a rich, deep purple-red color. Perfect for a young CabSauv.
On the nose, I was caught up in some wonderful green herbal aromas, red currants, a slight vinegary overtone (in a good way!), and black pepper. This went beyond the usual “red/black fruit” nose. Really pleasant. Lots of indescribable but delicious things happening in the glass. I’m not surprised to see the 23% Syrah listing on the label. Yep – it’s in there!!!
On the palate, this is obviously very young and very tannic. (What else would you expect from a 2023 vintage right now?) Getting beyond the tannins, it is earthy and mineral-y – maybe a little bit like hot slate after a quick summer shower? There are oaky and twiggy/leaf litter notes. As the wine breathes in the glass, the black fruit flavors come forward – blackcurrant and blackberry especially. Not a super long finish, but that could be due to the youth of the wine.
I paired with a vegetarian pasta dish (sauteed peppers, onions, tomatoes, and herb goat cheese). This was a nice addition!!!
(And all of this without the benefit of the tasting notes from the Shannon family team!)
I’m terrible at guessing age-worthiness. At the same time, I think this could use some additional time in bottle to allow the finish to develop and the heat to die back a bit. It seems to be designed as a “drink now” wine, but I would let it sit for a couple more months before it enters the weekly rotation. Price point makes this a good choice for the Tuesday Evening Dinner!
My sincere thanks to the WCC team and to the Shannon Family for introducing me to Lake County!!!
@cjsiege Thanks for the review CJ!
I have the Urgency to Labrat!
Color: ruby red, densely translucent.
Initial nose: red cherry.
Initial flavor: Primarily cherry, but notes of menthol, tobacco
Swallow aftertaste: something hangs around for a long time: mint? Hangs around for ages.
This, I would buy and happily drink.