2009 Derenoncourt Red Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Derenoncourt California is the Napa-based enterprise of globe-trotting wine consultant and vigneron Stéphane Derenoncourt. The French-born Derenoncourt spent his 20s working in vineyards and cellars in Bordeaux, eventually becoming winemaker at Château Pavie Macquin and La Mondotte. Today he consults around the world and owns two domaines of his own, in Bordeaux and Napa. His inaugural Napa vintage was the 2006.

North Coast AVA includes California’s most prestigious sub-appellations and vineyards. The three million acre area includes vineyards in six counties north of San Francisco and nearly 50 sub-appellations. The Napa Valley and Sonoma County AVAs are just two of the renowned sub-appellations included in the North Coast designation, which also includes the AVAs Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Stag’s Leap and Rutherford, which are all among the most acclaimed wine producing districts in California. The North Coast AVA designation is generally used for wines made by blending grapes grown in several counties or AVAs. The appellation includes part of the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Solano and Lake.

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.