THIS ITEM IS FOR PICK UP ONLY AT THE AUCTION EVENT OR AT WEST PORTAL SCHOOL

2004 Trace Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Knights Valley, Kendall-Jackson Vineyard Estates

The Trace Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon from KJ is one of three Cabernets in the upscale hillside series Highland Estates. This one is from Sonoma County immediately south of Alexander Valley and due north of Calistoga in the Napa Valley. (The other two Highland Estates Cabs are from Alexander Valley and Napa’s Mount Veeder). 

The wine is very dark in color with deep aromas of blackberry. On the palate, there’s also a density. Everything’s in place here – the fruit, the acidity, and the tannins. It’s also very earthy, exhibiting the soils from this volcanic vineyard. The earth itself is yellow-blond in color at an elevation of 450 to 1,000 feet. 

The wine was aged for 21 months in French barrels, 88 percent of which was new. Hold onto it for a couple of years to enable it to settle, and then drink it over the ensuing 15 years. There were only 400 cases produced (making it the smallest production of the trio of Cabs) and it is only available direct from the winery. 

Reviewed May 23, 2007 by Alan Goldfarb.