A few years back, Laura Brennan Bissell responded to a post about a four-acre vineyard of 70's quad-planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the Russian River. As a winemaker seeking terroir that matches their desire for grape expression, they were elated and made a handshake deal to take it all.
The parcel is located on the Bacigalupi property, off Westside Road, and was being farmed by dairy-man-turned-grape-farmer, John Bucher, known for Pinot Noir. Traveling to this forgotten Cabernet Sauvignon oasis felt like entering a secret garden or a California of the past. The wide rows and sparse vine spacing are alongside a dry creek bed, with a treehouse-like hideaway on the eastern slope. The wines they made in 2018 and 2019 expressed California's subtlety - a brightness, brambly depth, floral notes, and an earthy, dusty character.
The wine is fermented slowly in twice-used barrels for 18 months, building complexity in flavor and aroma.
