A similar situation exists with the Cabernet Sauvignons. They are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignons made in 200-case lots, with the exception of the Monument Ridge, and all are aged 18 months in French oak of which 70% is new. There are just too many similarities between them even though they come from various elevations (ranging from 500 feet to as high as 2,400 feet). All the Cabernets are dense, tannic and full-bodied with impressive levels of richness, minerality and blue and black fruits. My favorites include the Christopher’s, Bear Point, Rockfall, and Cougar Ridge. Interestingly, the Monument Ridge and Monolith tasted more tannic, closed and difficult to evaluate. These are big, concentrated Cabernet Sauvignons and even though some of the vineyards are separated by as much as five miles, there is an overall similarity that comes from this Alexander Mountain Estate despite the various elevations and expositions. Perhaps 15-25 years of aging will confirm Jess Jackson’s belief that they are different. That being said, they are all high quality, promising Cabernets that should still be drinking well in 25-30 years.
I must say that I disagree completely with Stonestreet’s decision to make so many single vineyard Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons, even though I understand Jess Jackson’s logic that they are all different vineyards, different expositions, etc., etc. Moreover, they all emerge from his Alexander Mountain Estate, but it seems to me the similarities between them are so strong that a convincing argument could be made for producing two or perhaps three cuvees of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon as they could easily be blended together. The other difficult thing from a critic’s standpoint is that fewer than 200 cases of each Chardonnay are produced, making them nearly impossible to find. The same thing exists for all the Cabernets except for the 2008 Monument Ridge, of which there are only 800 cases.
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