92pts Jeb Dunnuck

Made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Ripple Effect is an opaque black/red color and leads in the glass with notes of cocoa powder, sawdust, graphite, and blackcurrant. It is well-structured on the palate. taking on more tannin structure, with a building feel and a clean acidity. It needs some time to come together, but it has potential over the next ten years.

Vintage Notes

The 2021 vintage was a spectacular year for Alexander Valley. A dry winter ushered in an early budbreak accompanied by a perfectly mild spring, setting the stage for a classic growing season. A second year into the drought, the dry conditions of the soil guided the vines to concentrate their efforts into producing and ripening small, intensely flavored berries. Though the crop size was painfully low, we are thrilled to report that quality was exceptionally high. Warm summer days and cool nights led to even ripening, optimal phenolics, and a leisurely harvest—a winemaker’s dream and a truly magnificent vintage.

The resulting 2021 wines are structured, energetic, and deeply aromatic. Their quality brings to mind other great vintages made in drought years, displaying a freshness reminiscent of the 2016s supported by a tannin structure similar to the 2013s. You can cellar these wines with confidence, and patience will be rewarded in their evolution.