2023 ESTATE RED
BLEND
Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant with Merlot and Petit Verdot
VINEYARD SOURCE
Figgins Estate Vineyard
AGING PROFILE
22 months in 64% new French Oak and 36% neutral French Oak
PRODUCTION
1,852 Cases
RELEASE DATE
September 2026
Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant with Merlot and Petit Verdot
Figgins Estate Vineyard
22 months in 64% new French Oak and 36% neutral French Oak
1,852 Cases
September 2026
Winemaker’s Notes
The 2023 vintage of Estate Red is incredibly dark in the glass. The nose opens with brooding yet expressive notes of black and blue fruits, ripe plum, and boysenberry, layered with lilac, violet, black tea, and subtle floral notes. Hints of sweet tobacco, espresso, pencil shavings, and wood spice lend complexity, while a touch of wet stone and earthiness provides balance and depth. The palate is rich and beautifully proportioned, offering a lovely mouthfeel framed by silky tannins and mouthwatering acidity. Layers of dark red fruit unfold alongside notes of baking spice, graphite, and cocoa powder, creating a wine that is both powerful and remarkably graceful. Big yet well rounded, the finish is wide, persistent, and deeply satisfying, leaving a lasting impression of sweet fruit, savory nuance, and freshness. Already compelling in its youth, this wine possesses the structure and balance to evolve beautifully for years to come.
Vintage Notes
When we put the last of the 2023s to barrel, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of deep gratitude for a truly wonderful growing season. We entered the season with a winter that would not loosen its grip, but then the weather seemed to skip our normal spring entirely and move straight into summer in late April. We had nearly simultaneous bud break in all varietals at Figgins Estate Vineyard, which is quite unusual. Despite one two-day heat wave, the summer was one of the most pleasant I can ever remember. Harvest was drama-free, generous, and proceeded at a steady pace. The wines have stunning potential, with amazing color, density of fruit, and supple tannins. I cannot wait to see them evolve!
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Critical Acclaim
99 - James Suckling
A juicy and delicious Bordeaux blend that is aromatic, seamless, silky, and remarkably fresh. From a single vineyard. Medium- to full-bodied and mouthwatering, with a very long finish. Drink or hold.
95 - Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection
A rich and redolent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, this estate wine spent nearly two years in French oak barrels that were 64% new and 36% once-filled and neutral. Its ripe black cherry and bittersweet dark chocolate aromas are accented by touches of orange peel and balsa. The wine's boysenberry pie, blueberry fruit leather, and saline flavors are buoyed by velvety tannins and bright acidity. A texture as supple as a calfskin glove is the cherry on top for this pleasurable wine. Drink now through 2040. — Michael Alberty