2020 Ehret Family Winery “Knights Valley” Cabernet Sauvignon
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Being the “least expensive” Cabernet Sauvignon in the Ehret Family Winery lineup, it still delivered like one of their premier wines! First on the eyes a dark luscious coloring almost black and with heavy viscosity. On the nose one of the more expressive and startling aromas with dark cherries exploding in the senses. On the palate a symphony of flavors broke out in merriment with red raspberry and black fruits. On the finish, soft and velvety tannins provide a smooth and gentle conclusion to each sip. This wine can easily be enjoyed with various foods or even as a standalone drink.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The grapes are handpicked from their estate Bavarian Lion Vineyards. 300 cases were produced and the 2019 vintage is listed at $75/bottle but no price is shown on the 2020 vintage. This show having an alcohol level of 15.5%.
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
Paired this evening with braised beef short ribs cooked in a slow cooker all day. First browned on the skillet for a few minutes and then placed in the slow cooker. Ingredients included olive oil, onions, mushrooms, garlic, red cooking wine, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram and bay leaves. Accompanied with a risotto of mushroom sautéed first in garlic and peas and a wilted spinach salad with freshly cooked bacon and slivered purple onions. The food and wine pairing was excellent with the flavorful 2020 Ehret Family Cabernet Sauvignon.
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.
Map courtesy from Vintroux https://vineyardandwinerysales.com/
Knights Valley is located in Northern Sonoma County between Alexander Valley and over the Napa Valley border next to Calistoga
Sláinte,
Michael