2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

This is another impressive set of new releases from Cornell and winemaker Elizabeth Tangney. The property lies adjacent to Pride, on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain, an area that is truly magical for Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2021s are statuesque, vibrant wines that beautifully capture the energy of the year. Readers will see that immediately in Courtship, a second wine that overachieves. I was also quite struck by the 2022, which appears to have serious potential. As alluring as these wines can be young, they really only blossom with a few years in the cellar, something I saw once again with a recent bottle of the 2018 that was positively stellar.

I visited Cornell for the first time about a dozen years ago. I remember being struck by the wild, untamed beauty of the land. Sadly, much of that verdant lushness was lost in the 2020 fires. The 2020 Cabernets are very good for the year, but production is down sharply to about a third of normal. In a cruel twist of fate, much of the crop was just about to be picked as fires broke out. In addition to the 2020s, readers will find notes on the Commitment Cabernet Sauvignon, a bottling that sees an extra year in oak. Lastly, the 2021 is shaping up to be brilliant. This is a terrific set of wines from proprietors Henry and Vanessa Cornell and their team led by winemaker Elizabeth Tangney and consulting winemaker Françoise Peschon.