From: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Merlot and Petit Verdot
Tasting Notes and Critical Acclaim
Winemaker’s notes: The 2021 Ranch is dense and crunchy with aromas of crushed black cherries, brambles and plum. On the palate it is bright and full of red fruit, with a crisp finish. Enjoy this wine immediately and for the next 10 years.
“Delicate sage and cedar shadings accent bright cherries and dark berries in Snowden's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch. It's medium to full-bodied and silky textured, with fine-grained tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not overdone in any dimension, this nicely restrained and balanced Cab finishes with a touch of mocha. Enjoy it over the next decade.” —Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 91 points
Pairing: Structured, classically opulent, rich red wines from the US are benchmarks for iconic pairings. Dishes that feature dry-aged steaks (like dry-aged USDA prime ribeye), homemade burgers, grilled portobello’s, bacon-wrapped dates, roasts, and braises are all fantastic candidates for the perfect pair. Break out the 2021 Snowden The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon at your next special barbecue alongside this recipe for BBQ Beef Ribs.
About. Since 1955, the Snowdens have farmed their vineyard high above the Napa Valley. Today, the Snowden estate encompasses a 160-acre homestead on the eastern slope of the Napa Valley, which touches both the Rutherford and St. Helena appellations—with the Howell Mountain appellation only a few hundred yards away. In addition to the stunning views of St. Helena, Rutherford, and the San Francisco Bay, the estate offers four separate sites producing remarkably complex and individualistic wines.
The vineyards are planted well above the valley floor, protecting them from temperature extremes, on well-drained perlite soils. Sustainable farming practices are used in the vineyards, and low-intervention winemaking is the name of the game. Winemaking duties are in the capable hands of Diana Snowden Seysses, part of the third generation of Snowdens to run the property who also works with Domaine Dujac in Burgundy.
For a window into Diana Snowden Seysses’ perspective as a winemaker, we’re sharing her 2021 article in SevenFiftyDaily, “Carbon Capture During Fermentation Could Make Wine a Negative-Emission Industry."
