2019 Doren Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley
13.3 % alcohol by volume | titratable acidity 6.8 g/L | pH 3.55
5 barrels produced | 110 cases of 12 x 750ml bottles

Vintage: The 2019 growing season was as close to ideal as one can imagine. Record rainfall in the winter, followed by a cool spring threatened to push back harvest, while the summer growing season saw ideal temperatures allowing for the grapes to ripen evenly to perfect maturity. Yields were down 10% from usual and the grapes were packed with good flavor and balance. 2019 marks our 10th vintage of Doren Cabernet Sauvignon and we’ve updated our label to celebrate this milestone. Over the next few vintages we’ll incorporate flora and fauna representative of the vineyards and surrounding landscape’s natural beauty. This year’s addition of an olive leaf is symbolic of the olive trees residing on both of our vineyard sites. Also new for 2019 we’ve adapted an eco-friendly bottle that uses 50% less glass and requires significantly less fossil fuel burning to transport when compared to a typical premium bottle, helping to reduce our carbon footprint and preserve our environment so that you can continue to enjoy Doren Cabernet for many years to come.

Vineyard: Doren Cabernet Sauvignon is born in our family’s petite ½ acre vineyard located in Kenwood, California in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. Starting with the 2016 vintage, we also vinify Cabernet grapes from the similarly sized Sobre Vista vineyard, about 10 minutes up the road, in Glen Ellen. Both vineyards are organically farmed with minimal human intervention. We farm keeping the ultimate level of respect for our land and use sustainable practices in our vineyards to keep the soils viable now and into the future. Our commitment to keeping the vineyards free from chemicals and anything toxic transcends the crop itself. 

Winemaking: The grapes were harvested by hand on October 10th starting in the cool pre-dawn hours, at approximately 24 brix, and immediately trucked to the urban winery in San Francisco. The grapes were then hand sorted, and de-stemmed. After a four-day cold soak with twice daily punch downs the wine spontaneously started fermentation. A long, slow maceration and fermentation occurred over the next fourteen days, before the free run wine was gravity drained and berries were lightly pressed into barrel on October 28th. Five premium French oak barrels were used, equating to 20% second use, 20% third use and 60% neutral French oak, and our 2019 cab matured in barrel gracefully for the next thirty-one months. After racking from barrel on May 13th 2022, the finished wine from individual barrels was allowed to integrate in stainless steel tank for two months prior to being botted unfined and unfiltered on July 7th, 2022. In bottle the wine was allowed to rest and further integrate for eleven additional months before before release. Doren Cabernet is vegan friendly, there’s no use of animal products in its production. 

Tasting Notes: An intensely bright, garnet color is complemented by aromas of cherry compote, cedar and vanilla. High-toned acidity keeps it fresh and focused, with bursts of tart currant, cherry and tobacco prominent over integrated oak with a long milk chocolate finish. The tannins are developed, captivating and the wine has a wonderful, silky texture. 2019 Doren will drink beautifully upon release and age gracefully over the next five years or possibly more. Drink now through 2029. 

Food pairing: mushroom risotto, grilled ribeye steak, blue cheese topped burgers, steak tacos, duck confit, lamb or hearty cheeses.