Kathryn Kennedy Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon – sustainable
Kathryn Kennedy Winery leases and farms small parcels of Cabernet dotted across the Sana Cruz Mountain range, some as tiny as a few rows in a backyard. The wine is blended from these tiny parcels to create the final project–a masterful Cabernet painting a great overview of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
Kathryn Kennedy was an original and a pioneer in every way, establishing one of the first estates in Santa Cruz that specialized exclusively in Cabernet Sauvignon. Inspiration to plant a vineyard came from a fine bottle of Martin Ray Cabernet from the 1950s and from observing men tend an old Cabernet vineyard across the road from her home.
Kathryn was a pioneering female in the CA wine industry. Her brand was one of the first to bear a woman’s name. Her location was unusual too: although Saratoga had a stellar wine history in the 1880s, by the 1970s it was far from Napa and off the map to all but the most astute. After selling fruit for two vintages to Mount Eden Vineyards, Kathryn established her brand and winery in 1979.
Marty Mathis is considered one of the top winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains region, he is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon wines capable of achieving world-class quality with age. Marty’s knowledge of the Santa Cruz Mountains allowed him to access grapes from superior small vineyards.
Winemaker notes: Brilliant garnet red in color, this wine offers aromas of creamy oak, black raspberry, cherry, and dry loamy earth with an alluring hint of herbs and chocolate/mint candy. A plush and gentle entry leads to a full, rich mouthfeel with great persistence and mild, well-developed tannins. The signature long delineated finish of the Santa Cruz Mountains shows a style reminiscent of great Italian reds.
Jancis Robinson: Smells of sweet black cherry and cassis. Quite juicy and fresh, with black cherry and Bing cherry fruit touched by a hint of blueberry and cassis. Excellent acidity and a note of green herbs add to the overall impression of freshness. Faint muscular tannins gain strength through the finish.