2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Scherrer Vineyard

Fred Scherrer is one of the most unassuming winemakers in Sonoma. Working out of a simple, functional building in Sebastopol, Scherrer makes a range of wines from sites in Sonoma and Alexander Valley. These are generally mid-weight wines that spend more time in barrel than is the norm these days, with minimal rackings and a generally non-interventionist approach. Scherrer releases to their mailing list before the wines are put into distribution, sometimes by as much as a few years, so readers may see a wide range of vintages in the market between what is available at the winery and the current releases in shops and restaurants.

As I enter the spacious cellar I am greeted by faint, mellow tones that are clearly those of a Martin D-28. Fred Scherrer coaxes those same soulful notes from his wines. Scherrer offers his wines in two distinct offerings – younger wines for the retail mailing list and older wines for the trade – so keeping up with new releases across both channels of distribution is a bit of a challenge, but hopefully I have managed to capture the best of what is in the cellar today. Relative to most of his peers, Scherrer prefers longer elevage, while rackings are kept to a bare minimum. At times, I feel some of these wines might benefit from being bottled earlier, which might also preserve more freshness.