In 1995, Clay Shannon 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... The landscape is rugged and wild, and so are our neighbors – we’re surrounded by wildlife. We’ve got ducks, geese, deer, raccoons, quail, golden eagles, bald eagles, wild turkey, chipmunks and bobcats that visit us regularly. We are also visited commonly by bears, mountain lions and elk."
Shannon Ridge is passionate about preserving their land, not only for great vineyard sites, but for the wild creatures which share the property. Their 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. “Sustainability wasn’t some philosophical concept;" says Clay, "it is the way we live our lives.”
All of September is dedicated to Shannon Ridge! This is review #1 of 8, and you can read all of the reviews I've done so far by clicking here.
Shannon Ridge is passionate about preserving their land, not only for great vineyard sites, but for the wild creatures which share the property. Their 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. “Sustainability wasn’t some philosophical concept;" says Clay, "it is the way we live our lives.”
All of September is dedicated to Shannon Ridge! This is review #1 of 8, and you can read all of the reviews I've done so far by clicking here.
The 2014 Home Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is from both the Red Hills AVA and High Valley AVA in Lake County, California. 100% of the wine saw malolactic fermentation in barrels, and twenty-five months in 40% new oak (3/4 French, 1/4 American). It has a 14.2% ABV.
The color of the wine is a beautiful ruby red. On the nose there's cherries, graphite, anise, chocolate, and cedar. It's got just an ultra-Cabby nose. On the palate it's medium to full bodied with a lush mouthfeel, a little kick to the acidity, and a finely grained tight tannin that brings a non-aggressive astringency. There's flavors of cassis, cherries, chocolate, cinnamon, and cedar. Look at that! All C-words there! The finish is my favorite part, as the fruits ride the acidity and the tannin dries it out on your tongue.
This is a lighter and softer Cabernet than its Napa counterparts at the same price but still nicely structured, and that's a good thing. The quality is true for the price but it's also easily approachable and good to pour for mixed company. Great for red meats, red sauce, grilled seasonal vegetables, nachos (about to make some of those right now), and even just on its own.
QUALITY VS PRICE RATING
Price: $22
Rating: 4/5 = Recommended (what does that mean?)
The bottle used was supplied free of charge by Trio Wine Company for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
The bottle used was supplied free of charge by Trio Wine Company for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
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