Cartlidge and Browne, Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast, USA, 2021

Producer Profile

In 1980, the same year Ronald Reagan came to power and JR was shot in 'Dallas', with no money to buy vineyards and seeing no reason to, Tony Cartlidge started his winery in an undistinguished Napa Valley garage.

Possibly the original Californian 'garagiste' he set out to source the best possible grapes to handcraft his wines in this unassuming home. Nearly 40 years later, still sourcing from vineyards as wide ranging as Sonoma to the Sierra foothills, continuing to produce high quality wines, Cartlidge & Browne has become a byword for varietally pure Californian wines, whilst sticking to their garagiste roots of taking a different path.

Viticulture

Grapes are sourced from across the region from the best vineyards, some with powerful tannins, others that will lend bold dark fruit notes, giving the flexibility to produce wine that is round, integrated and robust on the palate.

Winemaking

The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness for a lengthy fermentation to extract deliciously balanced flavours. The wine was aged in French and American oak.

Oak Ageing

Time: 11 Months
Type: French
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: 30

Tasting Note

This Cabernet starts out with rich, delicious red fruits on the nose that flows into cherry, watermelon, candied plum and crème brûlée. The soft, yet fine, tannins have notes of coffee, rose petals and wet slate. Served lightly chilled this is beautifully elegant.

Food Matching

Roasted meats including filet mignon, hamburgers and grilled summer vegetables as well as sharp, aged cheeses.