Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
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In addition to the Cabernet Sauvignon base, this wine is blended with Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Deeply and richly colored, nuanced with finely textured tannins, this is a wine that is deliciously approachable upon release but will continue its evolution over many years in the bottle, rewarding those with patience enough to set aside a library selection.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Big and rich, with firm, structured tannins that are powerful and edgy, framing the core of blackberry, black cherry, plum and espresso flavors. An impressive effort. Best from 2019 through 2029.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
For more than a decade, Lancaster has been one of my top Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignons. The 2014 vintage is one the winery's best to date. This wine offers expressive ripe red currants that even hints at blueberry. Pair this rich wine with a richly seasoned pork tenderloin. (Tasted: November 16, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine & Spirits
This 53-acre estate, in the hills at the southeastern corner of the Alexander Valley, consistently produces exceptional cabernet, including this exceptionally mineral 2014. The fruit is present, in the juicy texture and blackberry tones, but it’s the fruit tannins that give the wine its depth, as if mining for minerals, from iron ore to obsidian. Built for long aging, this needs decanting and a blackened steak if you open it now.
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Located at the southern tip of the Alexander Valley, Lancaster Estate rests in the foothills of the western Mayacamas Mountains at the confluence of the Chalk Hill and Knights Valley appellations. Within the rolling hills of this “golden triangle,” an ideal climate of warm days and cool nights combines with the region's myriad soil types to produce red wines of uncommon grace and style.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.