2023 La Pelle Wines ‘Alluvium Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon

DEC99 Incredibly expressive mineral character comes through with crème de cassis, blackcurrant and warm Indian spices, lifted bay laurel notes, deep woody tones, forest berries, liquorice, anise and fennel seed. The fruit is lush and rich, underscored by super-compact, firm tannins that will resolve with time in the cellar but are already well integrated, though they do build on the finish with impressive persistence, intensity and a dark chocolate edge. The Alluvium Vineyard sits next to Beckstoffer Dr. Crane on the west side of St Helena. Planted in 1981, it is trained as an old California sprawl on an alluvial fan and farmed by Silverado Farming, co-owner of La Pelle. Owner-winemaker Maayan Koschitzky says he employs cool-climate winemaking techniques from this warmer site. WP98 The 2023 La Pelle Alluvium Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a little shaking to wake up notes of cassis, wild blueberries, and mulberries, giving way to hints of graphite, wild sage, tapenade, and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is super-intense, packed with black berry flavors and red berry accents, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and great tension, finishing with epic length and energy. Very impressive. JD97 From a single old-vine vineyard in St. Helena and aged 22 months in French oak, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Alluvium offers up cassis, black raspberries, spicy wood, leather, and loamy earth. It’s full-bodied and has the vintage’s pure, more elegant than powerful style, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. This has a wonderfully balanced, supple, and charming 2023 with so much to love. Drink 2025-2045.