94-Points by Wine Enthusiast
This wine is bright, rich, with aromas of ripe plum, blackberry, chicory, dried florals, and notes of toasted vanilla on the nose. The flavors on the palate are blackberry, blueberry, chocolate cherry, orange vanilla cream, and juicy mouthwatering tannins on the finish.
Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec, 5% Merlot, aged for 20 months, 30% new French Oak and 70% neutral barrels, we allowed our wines to undergo malolactic fermentation in our extensive wine caves.
 
TASTING NOTES
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve opens with rich aromas of ripe blackberry, purple flowers, and subtle tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied yet robust, showing layers of oak spice, black currant, and a touch of liqueur. Firm tannins provide structure, leading to a long, lingering finish with warm oak and refined complexity.
 
Vineyard:
Brassfield Estate’s High Valley vineyards—Monte Sereno, Rattlesnake Ridge, High Serenity, and Volcano Ridge—combine diverse elevations, soils, and microclimates to create a complex, harmonious expression of the region. Each site contributes distinct character, showcasing the unity and beauty of High Valley terroir.
 
Brassfield Estate wines capture the diversity of High Valley’s distinctive terroir—from the elevated valley floor of High Serenity Ranch to the volcanic slopes of Volcano Ridge. Influenced by cool marine breezes, volcanic soils, and elevations between 1,800 and 3,000 feet, this unique AVA offers ideal conditions for expressive, balanced wines. Overlooking California’s largest natural lake, Clearlake, and benefiting from the region’s pristine air quality, Brassfield produces fruit-driven wines crafted with sustainable practices and classic winemaking by Carlos Valadez, whose family has deep roots in the estate.
 
Winemaking:
Crafted from select blocks within Volcano Ridge and Ridgeline West, this Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-sorted and fermented in open-top French oak puncheons and stainless-steel tanks, with gentle punch-downs and pump-overs for balanced extraction. Aged 20 months in 30% new French oak, the wine completed malolactic fermentation in caves and was stirred monthly on its lees for added texture. Lightly fined and minimally filtered, it delivers depth, finesse, and true estate expression.
 
Brassfield Estate Winery
At the top of High Valley AVA in Lake County, CA lives an Estate and winery unlike any other. Planted at an altitude matched by only 1% of vineyards in the world, Brassfield Estate Vineyards & Winery is not bound by the traditions of the valley floor. Precision, sustainable farming is our base to craft 17 varietals; from vine to bottle the wines never leave our hands. We go above and beyond; for the land we reside on, the animals we share it with, the people who join us, and of course our award-winning wines.