94
Points
Technical info
Alcohol
14.3%
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Knights Valley
Oak treatment
15 months in French oak (56% new)
Winemaking
Hand‑harvested at night from Teviot Springs Vineyard in the warm, mountain‑influenced Knights Valley AVA, the fruit arrives cool and intact, preserving the natural balance shaped by the region’s warm afternoons, cool evenings, and volcanic‑alluvial soils. Each block is fermented and aged separately to honor its individual expression, with gentle handling throughout the process. Extended maceration is employed to reinforce the tannin framework supported by Knights Valley’s long growing season and pronounced diurnal shift, while malolactic fermentation in barrel promotes an integrated, polished texture. A restrained winemaking approach, including just one rack‑and‑return and balanced barrel integration, ensures that the vineyard site remains the central voice. The final blend rests for 15 months in French oak barrels, 56% new, adding refinement without overshadowing the character of Knights Valley.
Vintage
The 2023 growing season in Knights Valley was characterized by consistent, mild weather and one of the longest growing seasons in recent memory. Winter and spring rains provided full reservoirs and healthy soils, while the mild summer weather supported healthy canopy growth and slow, even ripening. The result was fruit with purity, elegance, and optimal ripeness. The grapes for this wine were harvested between October 25 - November 8, 2023.
Vineyards
Situated in a secluded corner of Sonoma County, just 17 miles north of the Beringer winery, Knights Valley lies in the rain shadow of Mount St. Helena. Teviot Springs Vineyard occupies the mountain’s southern foot‑slopes, on steeply inclined terrain that transitions toward the valley floor. The site is dominated by Goulding clay loam over fractured volcanic material, a soil profile that restricts vigor, enhances drainage on the slopes, and produces small, thick‑skinned Cabernet Sauvignon berries with density, structure, and pronounced site expression.
