2009 Mauritson Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Mauritson is in Healdsburg, California. It is owned and operated by Mauritson family, who have been farming in the area since the mid-19th century. In the mid 1990s Clay Mauritson returned from college and began working in Napa Valley wineries. He released his own debut vintage in 1998. The family owns 270 acres of vineyards and have long supplied other wine producers in the area. Today the estate produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Rose, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.