Though we started making this wine in 2017, I really feel like it has found focus and greater raison d’être since 2021. The reason for being? To deliver a wonderful, old-school Cabernet experience from well-farmed vines grown on volcanic soils—at a fantastic price.

Forty-seven percent of the wine comes from the coolly situated Lazy Dog Vineyard in the southwest of Sonoma Valley, 42% comes from vines planted organically at Bedrock Vineyard, and the balance comes from mountainous Montecillo and Monte Rosso Vineyards in the Mayacamas Range on the eastern side of the valley. Fermented completely with indigenous yeasts, this was aged for 15 months in a combination of second- and third-fill barrels, along with a fair amount of neutral wood.

All lots were picked at sane sugar levels to retain the classic Cabernet Sauvignon perfume of red and black fruits, cedar, pencil lead, herbs, and forest floor. Though this wine will age pretty effortlessly (click here for my notes on a vertical of this wine going back to 2017), we also make this in a way that ensures a delicious drinking experience earlier in its life. We are going for a combination of classiness and no economic guilt—a hard thing to find in Cab these days, but we think we managed it.

92-94 points, Antonio Galloni

"The 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) is a juicy, vibrant wine. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, dried herbs, menthol, plum and chocolate are dialed up. This is a stellar appellation-level bottling. Then again, the fruit sources are all top-notch. Look for this to be a serious overachiever."