• 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Sonoma County, Knights Link Vineyard
• Un-fined and unfiltered
• Aged 18 months in new French oak/li>

The 2016 Audacieux Knights Link Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine deliberately made to emulate the style of fine Bordeaux and embody the tradition of patience and excellence but also to embrace the fruit, texture, and roundness that has made the finest Sonoma County wine so famous. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is balanced and approachable now but will age well for over a decade and will continue to evolve with time.

Winemaker Notes:

Made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a vineyard on the west slope of the Knight Valley, our Knights Link Cabernet is highlighted by deep purple-hued colors on the rim and classic aromas of ripe red and black fruits, unsweetened cocoa, cardamom, Asian spice with hints of cigar box and graphite. This wine is both bright and rich on the palate. The flavor profile exudes notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and exotic spice. Generous and full-bodied the tannins are soft and approachable and add to the wine's finish. The end result is a wine that not only tastes great now but worthy of aging in the cellar for more than a decade. Power, grace, and elegance in every sip.

Food Pairing:

Hard cheeses, braised Asian ribs, seared Venison in a red wine reduction, garlic, and spice-rubbed lamb chops.

Harvest Notes:

The 2016 vintage was an excellent growing season and started out as the previous four vintages; with a warm and dry winter. Above-average temperatures and modest rainfall in the winter months brought a normal bud break in all growing regions. The main difference in 2016 was cooler temperatures in late February and increasing rain totals in March that helped slow down vegetative growth. These events allowed for perfect maturation of the grape tannins and flavor development. Flowering happened under normal conditions with a slight cooling trend in May, which ultimately prevented blockbuster yields. Temperatures after the fruit set were normal, but as the veraison approached there were a few heat spikes that jump-started the ripening process. Weather in late August cooled, and by early September temperatures warmed up and dry conditions prevailed. The result was harvest was completed under ideal conditions by end of September. Overall, this 2016 vintage exhibits very pure flavors, with strong specific vineyard signatures.