Decoy's premium cuvée "Decoy Limited". A high-class Cabernet Sauvignon has finally arrived, with its own Ridgeline and Brownell vineyards at its core. The Ridgeline vineyard, located in Alexander Valley in northeastern Sonoma, is dotted with different plots with different orientations, 360 degrees, on a steep slope, producing muscular and robust grapes. The Brownell vineyard, located slightly south, is almost flat and receives sufficient sunlight, resulting in fully ripened grapes. It is also blended with grapes from carefully selected contract farmers. Aged for 14 months in French barrels (40% new barrels). Expresses the luxurious beauty of the great Alexander Valley, which has a different personality from Napa Valley. It is full of ripe black fruits, has a spicy feel from the barrels, and has attractive nuances of chocolate and cocoa, and the powerful tannins and concentrated fruit tighten the whole.
Decoy's premium cuvée "Decoy Limited" to be released by VTG in 2018
Decoy was launched in 1985 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn as the second wine of Duckhorn Vineyards.
The company then expanded its own vineyards in Sonoma, and Decoy's grape suppliers shifted to Sonoma's finest vineyards, and today it also includes suppliers from cool, high-quality coastal areas, from Anderson Valley to Monterey.
Decoy's unchanging policy is "Reputation for delivering great quality at a remarkable price."
Finally, they have released the premium cuvée Decoy Limited following the same policy.
Vintage Information
Due to the warm winter, precipitation was less than 50% of normal, so we took early steps to prepare for the drought, such as encouraging new shoots, careful management of cover crops, targeted irrigation, and pruning with consideration for the stress on the grapes.
Budbreak occurred in mid-March to early April and flowering occurred in mid-May, with a favorable growing season promoting excellent maturity.
Harvesting began in mid-August with Sauvignon Blanc, quickly followed by Chardonnay and Merlot, with the remaining Bordeaux varieties being completely harvested by October 15th.
The drought resulted in low yields, resulting in small berries and excellent grapes with concentrated flavour.
The white wines have ideal acidity and fresh tropical flavors, while the red wines are incredibly concentrated, with great depth, complexity and juiciness.
Tasting Comments
The luxurious beauty of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Complex and captivating aromas of black cherries, ripe plums, blackberries, and sweet spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
In the mouth, supple, round tannins frame juicy layers of dark berry and chocolate, while a long, lingering finish reveals refined white pepper and toasty oak.
Field information
Ridgeline Vineyards
Brownell Vineyards
Ridgeline Vineyards: Located at the northern end of the Mayacamas Mountains, the vineyards are dotted with undulating plots that face 360 degrees in different directions.
Because of the steep slope, the yield is low and the vineyards have a concentrated flavor.
The region's loam soils are intertwined with natural mineral springs, producing muscular, robust wines with incredible color, flavor and structure.
Brownell Vineyards: Located north of Geyserville, this nearly flat field has loamy/clay soil with good water retention and high yields.
The result is a rich wine with soft tannins.
These two different vineyards complement each other in the final blend, resulting in a more complex and layered wine.
Vintage: 2021
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Full-bodied
Main variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 98%
Blend Variety: Merlot 2%
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Alexander Valley
Nested AVAs: Alexander Valley
Vineyards: Ridgeline Vineyards (own vineyards) / Brownell Vineyards (own vineyards) / Selected contract vineyards in Alexander Valley
Winemaker: Dana Epperson
Aging: 14 months in French barrels (40% new barrels)
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 14.5%
JAN: 669576020449