2021 "Carter" Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter is already complex, if not slightly exotic, with perfumed red and blue fruits supported by minty herbs, graphite, iron, and crushed stone, with a pretty violet character developing with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, straight and focused on the palate, it has fine tannins, good overall balance, and outstanding length. It's not a blockbuster but shines for its pure, focused style. (06/2023)

The single-varietal 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter is a blend from To Kalon and Las Piedras with a little Coliseum Block. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of blackcurrant jelly, blueberry pie, and plum preserves plus suggestion of dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and underbrush. The full-bodied palate is lively and ready to go, with alluring black fruit layers and savory accents coming through on the plush finish. (10/2023)

A blended wine whose exact composition varies a bit from year to year, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Carter is primarily from the Weitz Vineyard (also known as Leopoldina), with some barrels of Beckstoffer-sourced fruit that didn't work in the single-vineyard offerings. Scents of black cherries, thyme and dusty earth mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky, ending with mouthwatering freshness and ample length.

- Joe Czerwinski (07/2024)