2019 Ehret Family Winery, Bella’s Cabernet Sauvignon – High Acclaim of 99 points!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
The Ehret Family Winery owners are Pierre and Susan Ehret with their three children Alex, Christian and Isabella. They established the vineyard and started producing grapes in 1996 at the Bavarian Lion Vineyards. It is one of the largest estates in Knights Valley consisting of 1800 acres of both hillside and valley floor terrain. Currently 500 acres are planted in vineyards allowing the balance to provide an ecosystem for plants and birdlife to dwell. From 1996 they sold their fruit to some of the more well-known wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma counties. In 2005, they selected the highest quality grapes and started their family brand, Ehret Family Winery. Today they produce various Cabernet Sauvignon’s, Red Blends, Zinfandel, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Their tasting room is located in Healdsburg at 422 Healdsburg Ave and appointments are required.
Knights Valley is located in Northern Sonoma County between Alexander Valley and over the Napa Valley border next to Calistoga.
Photo from Ehret Family Winery Website
The winemaker is Erin Green who has been there since 2015. Previously Erin has had experience at Sonoma-Cutrer, Vinewood Cellars and Napa Wine Company. She has also blended wines for various premium projects such as Bryant Family, Colgin Cellars, Martinelli Winery and Pahlmeyer. From 2000-2012 Erin was the winemaker and Director of Winegrowing at Pahlmeyer.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
One of the most tantalizing wines tasted this year. First on the eyes, a tenebrous coloring with heavy viscosity. On the nose, strong and flavorful black cherries burst into the olfactory senses providing an immediate emotional response desiring that first sip. Once into the palate one of the strongest Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon wines burst into the far reaches of the mouth. Initially a savory deep black cherry greeted one, but upon reflection, an earthy note similar to the famed “Rutherford dust” combined with calcium/limestone minerality appeared along with a tinge of vanilla. On the finish, a wide range of tannins provided the quintessential and triumphant conclusion, starting out with its presence with an edginess and mellowing out to velvety and caressing, but always present. A superb full body wine. At $85/bottle, a surprisingly affordable price point for this drinking experience. Accolades of 99 points and Best of Class from the International Women’s Wine Competition and 98 points and Best of Class from the North Coast Wine Challenge. The wine comes in at 15.5% alcohol and only 300 cases were produced.
This wine just made my annual Best Wines Tasted during the year offering great mouth filling flavor and a long lasting finish. This wine provided a reserved flamboyancy that is desired in a classical Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
A wonderful neighbor Denise Labrie dropped off a pasta dish of Rigatoni with a homemade Bolognese sauce. Added a Cesar salad and some toasted garlic sourdough bread and for a wonderful meal. The wine with its rich tannins and acidity enveloped the red tomato sauce to perfection. A great wine and food pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael